Plane Hits Airstrip Mine; 1 Dies
A light plane chartered by the International Committee of the Red Cross struck a mine while landing at a central Angola airstrip, and a local employee who rushed to help was killed by a second mine, the Red Cross said today.
The aircraft was badly damaged but the 19 passengers, including five officials of the all-Swiss International Committee, were unhurt. The plane was landing at Chitembo airstrip in the Bie region of Angola’s central highlands when it struck the mine Wednesday. The Red Cross suspended its operations in Bie, where it was taking food and medical aid to people displaced by fighting between government troops and rebels.
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