

Harare – An Air Zimbabwe flight from Harare to Dar-es-Salaam was rocked by severe turbulence, creating scenes of panic among passengers who thought the plane was about to break up mid-air, a newspaper said Thursday.
Flight UM438 flew into turbulence around an hour after take-off on Tuesday, said the private NewsDay.
‘It could have been the end’
“The plane shook like it was about to break up into two. People were crying and praying everywhere in the plane, it was a frightening moment that I will never forget,” an unnamed passenger told the paper.
The passenger paid tribute to the plane’s captain who managed to keep the aircraft under control. “It could have been the end of me and my family,” the passenger said.
Ageing fleet
There were no reports of injuries and the plane landed safely in Dar-es-Salaam. The flight had already been delayed by an hour due to “technical issues”, NewsDay said.
Air Zimbabwe runs a tiny fleet of ageing aircraft: two Boeings, an Airbus and one propeller plane. The company has been severely mismanaged and is currently struggling under a debt of around $300 million.
In a report to parliament this week Transport Minister Joram Gumbo said Air Zimbabwe would in the next few weeks “take delivery of new equipment which will greatly improve its operations”.
more recommended stories
Paloma Mlunjwana Claps back and corrects the narrative
I had to set the record.
Grief Sucks; Brilliant Pongo shares his journey with grief in new book
In his latest offering author Brilliant.
Nigerians banned from going to fight in Ukraine
Nigeria has said it will not.
Ukraine crisis: First batch of students arrive in Ghana
Ghana has become the first African.
African students ‘badly treated at Ukraine borders’
Cold and fearful, scores of South.
Nigeria offers to evacuate its citizens from Ukraine
The government of Nigeria says it.
Mozambique government websites hacked
Hackers say thy have regained control.
African Union suspends Burkina Faso over military coup
The African Union said Monday it.