Gabon Air Disaster - Zambian Heroes | Chapter 2 - The Tragedy

Make sure to check out Chapter 1 The Dream Team here: • Zambian Heroes - Chapt...
The year is 1993. Zambian football is feeling confident about finally making it to the World Cup. This year it will be held in the United States and it would be the first time for many of the team to go to the US. Their victory over Italy in 1988 in the Olympics seems like forever ago but the players feel like they are building to their big break, in which they will make it to the World Cup tournament.
Zambia has had their chances to win big tournaments. In 1990 they were bounced in the semifinals of the pan-African tournament the “African Cup of Nations”. Then in 1992 they were eliminated in the first round of the knockout round. But this year would be different. This was going to be their year. Their route to World Cup qualification was going to come through their success at the African Cup of Nations. Kalusha Bwalya had his duties with his club team and so was not able to make it to the first match, but would make it to the next match in Senegal. Zambia played against Mauritius on April 25th 1993 without Kalusha Bwalya and the team dominated with a 3-0 win.
After their win the team were off to Senegal. Since the football association of Zambia typically did not have a large budget they would use the military planes as their mode of transport between matches.
The route required many stops for refueling including Kinshasa Zaire (now DRC), Libreville Gabon, Abidjan, before landing in Dakar Senegal.
It was on their last stop before making the diagonal flight across the Atlantic Ocean. The pilot had been working long hours and was just hoping to complete the flight and get some rest. The DHC 5D Buffalo is a dual prop plane which made it very loud and noisy, an uncomfortable experience for the players on board. As the plane lifted off from Gabon the pilot noticed they had an engine fire. As soon as the realization is made, the pilot reaches up to switch off the engine to put out the fire. But the nose of the plane starts to dip and the engine fire persists, they had just taken off the wrong engine. But they didn’t have the airspeed our altitude to fix the mistake that was made. The plane crashed right off the coast of Gabon in the ocean and all 25 passengers and 5 crew members perished in the crash.
As the investigation went on both Gabon and Zambia blamed one another for causes of the accident. But the tragedy nevertheless brought great sorrow on the people of Zambia.
Frederick Chiluba, the 2nd president of Zambia addressed the nation saying, “We must start now, this month, to build a new team, so the hopes don’t lie within these graves. I have decided that we will continue the competition in the African cup of Nations and for the World Cup.”
The resolve of the nation of Zambia was tested.

[@alionyalammingtone7211]

I was listening to a transistor radio in Kenya when the sad news were broken- the entire Zambian national football team had perished in a plane crush. It was shocking and goalkeeper Efford Chabala a veteran in East and Central challenge cup was no more. Eston Mulenga and many others had passed on. We lov ed KK XI. Rest in peace legends.

[@helenoftroy2665]

I was home in Zambia 🇿🇲 that aweful day. One of Zambia’s saddest day. Our entire soccer, the BEST ever. Still a SAD memory.

[@jameschikuse8016]

I couldn't believe how swept under the rug this was to this day still😢. Rest easy legends 💔🇿🇲

[@chilufyapola3852]

This was sad, wasn't born then but watching this now,is quite emotional.may their souls keep resting in peace 😢😭

[@mukobebupe9382]

Indeed this was a blow to my country. Continue to rest in glory our legends.

[@ThomasChisenga-pd9im]

This is the story I do cry Any time read or watch anything to do the kk11

[@paulinekundaM]

It breaks my heart 😭😭i was very young but i still remember the big loss we had

[@kennedytembo8430]

GREAT HISTORY THANKS.

[@kariskendall8704]

Wow! This video is great! So informative!

[@ZambianSensation]

Glad you think so!

[@cyrillewafo9195]

At the end Zambia won its first trophy in Gabon where the tragedy happened 20 years before.

[@berrimmubanga8343]

❤

[@giftsiamuzambi6734]

Please, communicate as you come. Would like to meet you, really impressed with your passion for our country, am a teacher and am impressed by how educative your channel is. Been advising my students to have time to look at your videos...very impressive

[@ZambianSensation]

Thank you! 😃 my email is [e-mail]

[@mukukamulenga2446]

it hurts me remembering old pain but God gave us the cup in 2012

[@amosmutale9676]

indeed, tizaona na. i love this...proud subscriber

[@kennedymwansa941]

It still breaks my heart

[@jastafkamasoba]

We will always remember you our legends

[@mathewjonezmtonga7545]

Always remember my uncle Mr John Soko. RIP to our fallen heroes.

[@nebiukifle6798]

Rip to our fallen legends 🇿🇲🖤🕊

[@imraankaneli5339]

Laka bro

[@Vico649]

Good presentation. You needed to mention that the pilot had flown to Mauritius for the previous game and had complained of extreme fatigue.

[@gadsonkamawu764]

Oh my god 🇿🇲 I hope this ultimate team will reborn again

[@giftsiamuzambi6734]

This is very good, keep up the good work

[@ZambianSensation]

Natotela sana!

[@jujuimagesprod9461]

Just a precision the first stop is in Brazzaville on Congo it's not in Kinshasa (Zaïre) and when they come in the second stop in Libreville Gabon Autorithy says in Zambian Pilot the Plane is no good ! It's better to stay here for repair this ! But The Pilot Colonel Mhone answer he has a military order to go in Abidjan for to stay 1 night ! The plane take off at 22h44 2minutes later Crash

[@lovemorewhite7777]

The wound is still fresh with me.

[@beatricesamawina1033]

we will always remember our legards bt my heart is still broken 💔💔💔😂😭😭😭😭🙌🙌🙌🙌from Zambia Lusaka

[@vincentmunsaka8937]

How I miss these guys anyway may their souls REST IN peace

[@ZambianSensation]

🙏

[@Sibusiso-e1y]

How many Kalusha Bwalya brothers, were playing in Zambia 1st national Team?

[@joebulls9017]

Goats continue resting in peace 😭😭😭

[@FredrickNgalasi]

One love

[@djackim5425]

I want a song yalila Zambia e yalila 1993

[@kholeska]

Thanx 4 updates 🇿🇲

[@agathawina1915]

Like this

[@sebente]

Just a correction, no report of what caused the plane crash has been made public. Thus, nobody knows what downed the plane. However, there are speculations of what happened including engine failure and the plane being shot. You have to correct the video or put a note to say the cause of accident is your opinion. Thanks anyways.

[@ZambianSensation]

The official investigation concluded that the pilot had shut down the wrong engine following an engine fire. It also found that pilot fatigue and a faulty instrument had contributed to the accident. You can find the report here: aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=19930427-2

[@sebente]

@@ZambianSensation Thanks for the link. However, the official report has never been released. The disaster report has been a political issue for decades now.

[@beautymukisha212]

@@sebente I second

[@oriennebula9712]

@zambianamerican thank you for the research.

[@MetuselaPhiri]

Am not satisfied with your report sir...

[@ALIBENINTLTD-q9l]

RIP ❤

[@justinbell700]

I still feel their pain

[@oumaroungoumoun6352]

One of the greatest Président that ZAMBIA have ever got.

[@joshuamwanza9964]

You can do a video about the Food of Zambia. Tuzaonana!!!

[@ZambianSensation]

That’s a great idea!!

[@PeterHamaimbo]

Still sounding latest bad news, life

[@sampasampa8779]

All 25 passengers and 5 crew members perished in the crush.. i feel like it happened yesterday may their souls continue to rest in peace

[@oumaroungoumoun6352]

Une of the greatest Président ZAMBIA have ever got.

[@elijahphiri9858]

Indeed they were heroes

[@Katkayz]

It’s a very sad story

[@jamdesigns7038]

Tizaonana!

[@badfr3ak]

Don't think we lost ZED is again 🦉

[@fizzywarrior8725]

The plane was manufactured by Canadians, and was not serviced by Zambia and shot down by Gabon, no info up to date

[@ZambianSensation]

It was a Canadian plane, not sure how the servicing works since no evidence exists to that point. To suggest that Gabon would shoot down the plane is some conspiracy theory stuff. Send me some evidence.

[@bong2020able]

@@ZambianSensation Gabon and France is responsible for the Zambia football national team crash.. What are signs of the body of the air plain? That is the answer. Go check it out.

[@cephasngazimbi.c4581]

did you just say , tizaonanan

[@ZambianSensation]

Maybe... 😏

[@shadzsinkssinkala5759]

R.i.p my niggas

[@ruthbanda5188]

😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭

[@comfortmuseneni]

😭😭😭😭😭

[@leviticusjmuzenje1405]

The heros

[@johnkomesa5713]

Forever rest in God's eternal peace, our fallen heroes.

[@sscrystal1085]

Hey what's up you guys!! Is there any conspiracy theory that their plane was sabotaged?? Something smells fishy...

[@mbingilavreman-sakavungu6930]

It is too bad b

[@rightwellmsiska7145]

Sad

[@ZambianSensation]

Very sad 😢

[@ruthbanda5188]

😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭

[@brightchavula5395]

Only God knows what happened

[@JeanSiachongwe]

L P