On October 19, 1986, Mozambique’s President Samora Machel died in a plane crash near Mbuzini, South Africa, close to the Mozambique border, along with several people.
The plane that crashed was a Tupolev Tu-134, a Soviet-made twin-engine jet airliner, registered as CCCP-65795, operated by a Soviet crew.
It was carrying Machel and other Mozambican officials from a summit in Zambia back to Maputo, Mozambique. At the time of the crash, there were 44 people on board. Tragically, 34 people died, including Machel himself.
Among the deceased were several ministers and senior officials of the Mozambican government, as well as members of the flight crew.
Samora Machel Dies After a Plane Crush
The survivors included nine passengers and one crew member. The summit, called the Frontline States, attended by Mozambique’s President, focused on coordinating efforts against South Africa’s apartheid regime and discussing regional security, especially regarding South African destabilization activities in neighbouring countries.
It was convened to address escalating tensions in southern Africa, notably South Africa’s support for rebel groups like RENAMO in Mozambique’s civil war and its broader destabilization efforts against neighboring nations.
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As a key figure in the anti-apartheid movement and leader of the Frontline States coalition opposing apartheid, Machel aimed to coordinate strategies with regional leaders to counter South Africa’s actions. The summit featured leaders such as Zambia’s President Kenneth Kaunda, Zaire’s President Mobutu Sese Seko, and representatives from other African nations.
After Machel’s death, the Mozambican government, led by FRELIMO, criticized South African authorities for not immediately informing them about the crash, which occurred in South African territory near Mbuzini, close to the Mozambique border.
Mozambique Government Rejects Claim That Plane Crash Was Due to Pilot Error
Several reports indicate that the Mozambican government was notified about the crash by the South African government approximately 12 hours later.
Following Machel’s death, several theories emerged, including allegations of assassination by South Africa’s apartheid regime, which had tense relations with him. Machel had accused the apartheid regime of funding the rebel group RENAMO to destabilize his government.
According to some Mozambicans, South Africa allegedly used a false navigational beacon to mislead Machel’s Soviet-piloted Tupolev Tu-134. A misleading VOR beacon near Mbuzini reportedly caused the aircraft to veer off course toward South African territory.
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Survivors and Soviet officials insisted the crew was experienced and would not have made such an error unless deliberately misled. However, the apartheid regime denied this, and the Margo Commission, established by the South African government, concluded that the crash resulted from pilot error, a ruling rejected by Mozambique and the Soviet Union.
They called for an international investigation, alleging that the crash was due to South African sabotage, specifically the use of a false navigational beacon.
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