News / National
Tyre puncture delays Mphoko's Air Zimbabwe flight
23 Feb 2016 at 06:01hrs | Views
VICE-PRESIDENT Phelekezela Mphoko and other Air Zimbabwe passengers on the Bulawayo-Harare flight were reportedly delayed by more than two hours after the plane had a tyre puncture just before take-off at Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo International Airport on Sunday evening.
Air Zimbabwe spokesperson Shingi Dhliwayo confirmed the flight delay, although she declined to confirm whether Mphoko was booked on that flight.
"The Air Zimbabwe Flight UM327, servicing the Bulawayo/Harare route, developed a technical fault, which caused the delayed departure of the aircraft from Bulawayo. The problem was attended to and it departed at 8pm local time," she said.
"Passengers were taken to Harare on the same flight. Regarding the identity of passengers on board our flights, we cannot disclose or confirm the information on passengers on board to third parties as this is highly confidential information.
"The airline regrets any inconveniences caused by this delayed flight and would like to reconfirm its unwavering commitment to safety."
Speaking to NewsDay on the sidelines of a Press conference to announce the upcoming 48th annual general assembly of the African Airlines Association (AFRAA), several Air Zimbabwe senior managers confirmed the incident and that Mphoko was also affected by the hitch.
"He (Mphoko) was scheduled to be on that flight, but those are details we don't normally discuss. What I can say is that every passenger was affected by the delay," a senior manager, who declined to be named, said.
Several passengers on the flight also posted on social media that Mphoko was one of the travellers.
Visiting Chinese President Xi Jinping came face-to-face with Zimbabwe's collapsing services, after his plane was also delayed by about 15 minutes at Harare International Airport due to malfunctioning equipment.
The towable aircraft passenger staircase, which is operated by the National Handling Services (NHS), developed a technical fault and remained stuck to Xi's Air China Boeing 747-400 plane.
Speaking to journalists yesterday, Transport minister Joram Gumbo pleaded with stakeholders to support the turnaround of Air Zimbabwe, saying they had set a target to make the national airline competitive.
"There is a process of getting a partner for Air Zimbabwe and it is in debt. What we are doing is to make sure the debt is taken over by government and then we look for a partner and come up with a company that is free of this debt," he said.
"In the next three years or so, Air Zimbabwe should become an airline to reckon with in the region. I am looking at a possible engagement with some partners, maybe before end of year. It's not a small process."
Zimbabwe is hosting the 48th AFRAA general assembly that will be attended by about 400 guests in Victoria Falls.
Gumbo, AFRAA and Air Zimbabwe officials said the platform should market Zimbabwe's struggling national airline.
AFRAA secretary-general, Elijah Chingosho said the association brings together global aviation leaders and stakeholders to take stock of aviation milestones and plan the future for the development of African aviation.
Air Zimbabwe spokesperson Shingi Dhliwayo confirmed the flight delay, although she declined to confirm whether Mphoko was booked on that flight.
"The Air Zimbabwe Flight UM327, servicing the Bulawayo/Harare route, developed a technical fault, which caused the delayed departure of the aircraft from Bulawayo. The problem was attended to and it departed at 8pm local time," she said.
"Passengers were taken to Harare on the same flight. Regarding the identity of passengers on board our flights, we cannot disclose or confirm the information on passengers on board to third parties as this is highly confidential information.
"The airline regrets any inconveniences caused by this delayed flight and would like to reconfirm its unwavering commitment to safety."
Speaking to NewsDay on the sidelines of a Press conference to announce the upcoming 48th annual general assembly of the African Airlines Association (AFRAA), several Air Zimbabwe senior managers confirmed the incident and that Mphoko was also affected by the hitch.
"He (Mphoko) was scheduled to be on that flight, but those are details we don't normally discuss. What I can say is that every passenger was affected by the delay," a senior manager, who declined to be named, said.
Several passengers on the flight also posted on social media that Mphoko was one of the travellers.
The towable aircraft passenger staircase, which is operated by the National Handling Services (NHS), developed a technical fault and remained stuck to Xi's Air China Boeing 747-400 plane.
Speaking to journalists yesterday, Transport minister Joram Gumbo pleaded with stakeholders to support the turnaround of Air Zimbabwe, saying they had set a target to make the national airline competitive.
"There is a process of getting a partner for Air Zimbabwe and it is in debt. What we are doing is to make sure the debt is taken over by government and then we look for a partner and come up with a company that is free of this debt," he said.
"In the next three years or so, Air Zimbabwe should become an airline to reckon with in the region. I am looking at a possible engagement with some partners, maybe before end of year. It's not a small process."
Zimbabwe is hosting the 48th AFRAA general assembly that will be attended by about 400 guests in Victoria Falls.
Gumbo, AFRAA and Air Zimbabwe officials said the platform should market Zimbabwe's struggling national airline.
AFRAA secretary-general, Elijah Chingosho said the association brings together global aviation leaders and stakeholders to take stock of aviation milestones and plan the future for the development of African aviation.
Source - newsday
