Presidential jet
GROUNDED
THISDAY REPORTER
Dar es Salaam
Dar es Salaam
THE Gulfstream G550 presidential jet has become grounded after being hit by a motor vehicle at the Mwalimu Julius Nyerere International Airport in Dar es Salaam on Thursday this week, it has been revealed.
According to sources at the airport, the Toyota Land Cruiser vehicle reportedly belonging to the Tanzania Intelligence and Security Service (TISS) rammed into the state-of-the-art aircraft, which was parked on the apron within the airport.
It is understood that there was substantial damage to one of the presidential jet’s wings.
The US-made plane, which cost Tanzanian taxpayers a staggering $40m (approx. 50bn/-), was bought by the third phase government of ex-president Benjamin Mkapa in October 2004.
Aviation experts say the wing is one of the main components of an aeroplane, helping create the lift that raises it off the ground and keeps it in the air.
Local aviation sources explained that in the light of this mishap, engineers from Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation in the US - which manufactured the presidential jet - might have to be hired to fix the damage.
’’This could likely prove to be a very costly undertaking for the government,’’ one of the sources told THISDAY.
The Gulfstream G550 jet features some of the most sophisticated technology available to support the rigorous demands of intercontinental missions.
According to its specifications, it has the ability to travel non-stop for 6,700 nautical miles at high speed.
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