44 Killed in Mozambique Plane Crash
MAPUTO, Mozambique — A Mozambican air force plane carrying top government officials crashed and burst into flames on takeoff, killing 44 people, Mozambique’s official news agency reported today.
The crash occurred Sunday at the northern Indian Ocean town of Pemba, the Mozambican News Agency said. Five people survived, but all were seriously injured, the agency said.
According to a government statement, the dead included Maria Chipande, wife of Defense Minister Gen. Alberto Chipande and a founder and member of the Mozambique Liberation Front.
The guerrilla movement fought Portuguese rule for a decade, and became Frelimo, ruling party of this Marxist nation in southern Africa, after Mozambique became independent in 1975.
The news agency said others killed included three district administrators in Cabo Delgado, the northernmost of Mozambique’s 10 provinces, a female member of Parliament and three regional party officials.
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