Kenya: Why is Africa prone to air accidents?
Written byNdesanjo Macha
Following reports of a Kenyan plane crashing in Cameroon, Diary of One Black Man writes: “Why is Africa prone to air accidents? I could go on and give you a laundry list of all the reasons. Here is a continent that is struggling with financial problems. These countries get these airplanes through the “throw-them-a-bone” programme by the west which happens every once a decade so that the west can be seen as doing something.”
Written byNdesanjo Macha
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The plane that went down was collected from Boeing in October 2006 and went into use at Kenya Airways in November 2006. That is is just six months ago. This was not some ramshackle “thow them a bone” aircraft.
Once again a perfect example of an African over-playing the victim card.
The sad thing is the question of hope and optimism. Recently many have been saying Kenya Airways is the best on the continent with a commendable, friendly, efficient service. You feel this sunshine, this light in the tunnel, then, boom!
For those with a weak heart or pessimistic fatalistic view of our motherland, it is like, i told you so. This is a second accident in seven years, so we shouldn’t feel so bad, although that is not a good thing to say to the relatives and crew. Hope you get my point.
Could it be that west african ground service crews are incompitent
In Africa , the basic problem is infrastructure and manpower. Any aircraft, whether it is American or European, requires quality maintenance, which requires quality and trained manpower. Only few airports and airlines in Africa equipped with quality infrastructure and manpower to do so. So, the probability of getting into an accident is more comparing to anywhere else in the world.Also corruption contributes a lot in terms of getting quality equipments and manpower. Poor passengers are suffering !!!!
It’s imperative to note this accident in particular should not be used to provide an accurate assessment of KQ’s safety profile in addition to future risk of an accident. KQ just like any other airline is prone to risks that are more often ‘aviation’ and at times beyond control. Why is it that when other airlines crash its normal accident that never attracts the media headlines around the globe with the same scrutiny, but when just plain bad luck and bad weather causes a new Kenya Airways Boeing to crash in Douala, its draws flight safety in Africa to question. The whole show is just business and don’t ask this question any more instead we should condole the bereaved and hope it doesn’t happen again. Otherwise KQ’s safety ratings are better compared to other Boeings and commercial air carriers elsewhere. Remember it was because of bad weather and this may be related to global warming due to excessive pollution from the West.