An Embraer EMB-120 Brasilia registered 5H-HLL struck a zebra during take-off from Seronera airstrip in Tanzania's Serengeti National Park on 4 October, then flew some 150nm to Kilimanjaro airport, where its left main landing-gear collapsed on touchdown. None of the 30 people on board — 26 passengers and four crew — was injured.

The aircraft, operated by Tanzanian safari carrier AH Airways, had been flying the scheduled sector from Seronera to Zanzibar's Karume airport. The operator confirmed the sequence of events in a statement.

"As the aircraft reached rotation speed on take-off, a zebra crossed the runway," the carrier said. "Despite the crew's efforts to avoid it, the left main landing-gear struck the animal."

Why the crew diverted to Kilimanjaro

With the extent of the damage unknown, the crew informed air traffic control and assessed their options. Seronera is a basic airstrip inside the national park with none of the emergency infrastructure a damaged undercarriage might demand. Kilimanjaro airport, roughly 150nm to the southeast, offers fire, rescue and medical facilities.

"Air traffic control was informed and passengers were briefed and prepared for a possible emergency landing," the carrier said.

Before committing to landing, the crew flew a low pass over Kilimanjaro so tower controllers could inspect the aircraft visually. They reported the landing-gear appeared to be extended.

"As a precaution, the captain shut down the left engine shortly before touchdown to reduce the risk of fire from any fuel leak and to help keep the aircraft under control," AH Airways said.

What happened on landing

The precaution did not prevent structural failure. The left main landing-gear collapsed as the Brasilia touched down, but the crew held the turboprop on the runway centreline and brought it to a stop before evacuating everyone on board.

"Our crew handled a serious situation with skill and calm, and followed their training from start to finish," the operator stated.

Airport impact and investigation

The Tanzania Airports Authority said the aircraft landed at 11:50. Kilimanjaro operates a single runway, designated 09/27, and the arrival forced a temporary suspension of all operations. The runway reopened at 16:20 — a closure of roughly four and a half hours.

"Investigation into the incident is ongoing, and the results will be officially announced by the relevant authority once completed," the airport operator said.

The broader context

Wildlife strikes are a structural hazard for operators flying into unpaved airstrips inside African game parks, where fences, runway sweeps and the wildlife-control measures standard at international airports do not exist. An animal crossing at rotation speed — the point at which the aircraft is committed to leaving the ground — leaves a crew with almost no margin to manoeuvre.

The choice of Kilimanjaro over pressing on to the original destination reflects standard diversion logic: the Brasilia's remaining range was never the constraint, but available crash, fire and medical cover was. The closure of Kilimanjaro's single runway for the afternoon also illustrates how one gear-up event at a one-runway airport propagates quickly into regional schedule disruption.

The extent of damage to 5H-HLL has not been disclosed. Tanzanian investigators will now examine the aircraft and the airstrip's wildlife-control arrangements, with findings to be released by the relevant authority on completion.