A small commercial helicopter belonging to Akagera Aviation crash-landed in Nyabihu District yesterday. All four passengers survived with minor injuries, according to Police. Superintendent Emmanuel Hitayezu, the Western Province regional Police spokesperson, said the accident happened at around10:30a.m in Kintarume Cell, Shyira Sector. The helicopter was flying from Kigali to Rubavu. “It was due to a technical problem, the pilot tried to control the plane but ended up crash-landing,” Hitayezu said. The chopper was carrying three tourists. The three tourists and the pilot flew back to Kigali on another Akagera Aviation tourist helicopter. Efforts to talk to the Akagera Aviation managers were futile by press time, but an employee who preferred anonymity, said the person authorised to speak to the media was not available for comment. Tony Barigye, the communications officer at the Rwanda Civil Aviation Authority, said they were waiting for the official report and declined to comment.
