Narrative:
A Sabena flight en route from Brussels, Belgium, to Nairobi, Kenya, came under fire as it was landing at Bujumbura International Airport. The Airbus A300-200 aircraft was hit by 13 machinegun bullets when it was at an altitude of approximately 100 meters. The plane landed safely several minutes after being struck. Of the 158 passengers and 12 crew members aboard the aircraft, only two people were slightly injured. According to the government, the attack was perpetrated by rebels seeking publicity. Various press sources support this theory, saying ethnic Hutu rebels fighting the Tutsi-led government of President Pierre Buyoya operate in the vicinity of the airport. Airport employees were quoted by the press as saying that Hutu rebels had come close to the airport in the days preceding the incident.
Normal landing
| Status: | |
| Date: | Monday 4 December 2000 |
| Type: |  Airbus A330-223 |
| Operator: | Sabena |
| Registration: | OO-SFR |
| MSN: | 296 |
| First flight: | 1999-09-08 (1 year 3 months) |
| Engines: | 2 Pratt & Whitney PW4168A |
| Crew: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 12 |
| Passengers: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 158 |
| Total: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 170 |
| Aircraft damage: | Minor |
| Aircraft fate: | Repaired |
| Location: | near Bujumbura International Airport (BJM) ( Burundi)
|
| Phase: | Approach (APR) |
| Nature: | International Scheduled Passenger |
| Departure airport: | Brussel-Zaventem Airport (BRU/EBBR), Belgium |
| Bujumbura International Airport (BJM/HBBA), Burundi | |
| Flightnumber: | SN877 |
A Sabena flight en route from Brussels, Belgium, to Nairobi, Kenya, came under fire as it was landing at Bujumbura International Airport. The Airbus A300-200 aircraft was hit by 13 machinegun bullets when it was at an altitude of approximately 100 meters. The plane landed safely several minutes after being struck. Of the 158 passengers and 12 crew members aboard the aircraft, only two people were slightly injured. According to the government, the attack was perpetrated by rebels seeking publicity. Various press sources support this theory, saying ethnic Hutu rebels fighting the Tutsi-led government of President Pierre Buyoya operate in the vicinity of the airport. Airport employees were quoted by the press as saying that Hutu rebels had come close to the airport in the days preceding the incident.
Classification:
Shot down from the groundNormal landing
Sources:
» Criminal Acts Against Civil Aviation 2000 / FAA, Office of Civil Aviation SecurityPhotos
Map
This map shows the airport of departure and the intended destination of the flight. The line between the airports does not display the exact flight path.
Distance from Brussel-Zaventem Airport to Bujumbura International Airport as the crow flies is 6429 km (4018 miles).
Distance from Brussel-Zaventem Airport to Bujumbura International Airport as the crow flies is 6429 km (4018 miles).
This information is not presented as the Flight Safety Foundation or the Aviation Safety Network’s opinion as to the cause of the accident. It is preliminary and is based on the facts as they are known at this time.
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