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A Ceiba Intercontinental Boeing 737-800, registration 3C-LLY performing flight C2-71 from Dakar (Senegal) to Cotonou (Benin), was enroute at FL350 over the Senegal 45 minutes into the flight at 18:13Z when the flight path crossed with an ambulance jet, a Senegalair Hawker Siddeley HS-125 registration 6V-AIM from Ouagadougou (Burkina Faso) to Dakar (Senegal) carrying a patient, a doctor, two nurses and three crew. The Boeing 737-800 continued their flight but diverted to their ultimate destination and home base Malabo (Equatorial Guinea) where the aircraft landed safely.
The HS-125 subsequently flew beyond Dakar crossing Dakar at FL350 and disappeared over the Atlantic Ocean, presumably crashing into the Ocean after running out of fuel. A search for the aircraft is ongoing.
On Sep 6th 2015 Senegal’s Civil Aviation Authority (ANAC) indicated they suspected a midair collision may have taken place between the two aircraft, an examination of the Ceiba Boeing 737-800 has been initiated. The ANAC assumed that the HS-125 suffered a sudden decompression as result of the collision disabling everybody on board, the aircraft continued on autopilot until running out of fuel.
On Sep 8th 2015 Senegal’s Foreign Ministry reported, the foreign minister of Equatorial Guinea confirmed the Boeing 737-800 suspected to be involved in the midair collision shows wing damage consistent with a mid air collision. The ministry advised that a report from Bamako (Mali) air traffic control also suggested a collision between the HS-125 and the Boeing occurred.
Late Sep 11th 2015 the French BEA reported that Senegal’s Accident Investigation Commission (BEA) requested assistance by the French BEA. Three French investigators have been dispatched to Dakar. The French BEA reported that the HS-125 encountered a mid air collision with a Boeing 737-800 of Ceiba Intercontinental and subsequently crashed into the ocean killing all 7 aboard the HS-125. The Boeing 737-800, flight C2-71 from Dakar to Cotonou, diverted and landed in Malabo with limitated damage.
The Boeing 737-800 had departed Dakar at 17:28Z, at 18:13Z on Sep 5th 2015 the Boeing 737-800 was at position N13.4 W12.25 at FL350 about to be handed over from Senegal to Mali. The aircraft subsequently overflew Cotonou at FL350 and continued straight to Malabo, about 400nm southeast of Cotonou, for a landing there at 21:40Z about 70 minutes after overflying Cotonou.
Passengers on board the 737-800 reported that they heard a strange noise about one hour into the flight. Later, as they were nearing Cotonou, the captain announced they needed to continue to Malabo for technical and security reasons.
On Jan 8th 2016 Senegal’s BEA reported in a press conference, that the ambulance jet of Senegalair had been cleared to climb and maintain FL340, however, climbed above that assigned level and was enroute at FL350 when it collided with the Boeing. The HS-125 has not been found after it flew beyond Dakar and disappeared from radar. The BEA is looking into the reasons as to why the HS-125 was flying at the wrong level, including altimeter malfunction.
According to a media report in Senegal, citing sources within the investigation, the HS-125 was operating with a defective altimeter since Aug 27th 2015, 10 days prior to the crash. The investigation is now mainly focussing on why the aircraft was released to service despite the defective altimeter.
Source: av herald
