Air Rhodesia Flight 825

On 3 September 1978, the Air Rhodesia Vickers Viscount aircraft Hunyani (VP-WAS) with 4 crew and 52 holidaymakers aboard was brought down shortly after take off from Kariba to Salisbury (now Harare) at about 17h10 by Joshua Nkomo's ZIPRA forces with a SAM 7 heat seeking missile. Ther missile struck the starboard wheel bay, wrecking all starboard controls and pressurised fuel lines, causing a massive fire which could not be extinguished. The inner... More

On 3 September 1978, the Air Rhodesia Vickers Viscount aircraft Hunyani (VP-WAS) with 4 crew and 52 holidaymakers aboard was brought down shortly after take off from Kariba to Salisbury (now Harare) at about 17h10 by Joshua Nkomo's ZIPRA forces with a SAM 7 heat seeking missile. Ther missile struck the starboard wheel bay, wrecking all starboard controls and pressurised fuel lines, causing a massive fire which could not be extinguished. The inner starboard engine also suffered missile damage. A crash landing was urgently needed to avoid risk of a fuel tank explosion or the wing to collapse from the intense heat. Contrary to some versions on Internet and radio, Captain Hood attempted a belly landing for very good reasons, including the fact that the undercarriage could not be lowered. On landing, the Hunyani, still on fire, plunged into a deep donga (ditch) that could not be seen before, causing it to cartwheel and break up. Eighteen survivors emerged from the crash landing, out of which three managed to get away and hide in the bush when a group of terrorists arrived and started shooting. They did not play dead as is reported on certain websites. Five other survivors had already left the scene to find water but did not return when they heard gunfire. The remaining ten survivors were shot and bayoneted to death by terrorists. All eight survivors were located and rescued the following day by Rhodesian Security Forces . In a recurring event on 12 February 1979, the Umniati (VP-YND) with 59 passengers and crew aboard on Flight RH 827 from Kariba to Salisbury were all lost after being struck by another SAM7 missile fired by the same group. The Umniati was reported by a farmer to have turned into a fireball and plunged into a ravine where it burned out. There were no survivors. The Gang that brought down both Viscounts were located and dealt with by the Rhodesian SAS. Two members of the Gang were not present at the time of the SAS attack but were believed to be killed later by Mugabe's 5th Brigade. (Information provided by Keith Nell - 1 SAS Regiment)

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