The Gambia national team was traveling to Ivory Coast to dispute the Africa Cup of Nationsfor the second time in its history, when the plane had to make a emergency landing after a sudden oxygen loss. After nine minutes in the sky, the flight of the “Scorpions” was able to return to Banjulcapital of Gambiadespite technical defects.
What began as a journey full of illusions almost ended in a new air tragedy. According to an official statement from the Gambia Football Federationpreliminary investigations indicated that the technical failure was caused by “a loss of pressure and oxygen in the cabin”.
The Gambian team was traveling to the Ivory Coast to compete in the 34th edition of the African tournament, which should have been played between June and July 2023 but was postponed to avoid the Ivory Coast’s rainy season. The trip was made in a charter flightoperated by the airline Air Cote d’Ivoire, that had to move the campus to the organizing country.
The previous minutes passed completely normally. The boarding and boarding of the plane was carried out in optimal conditions and both the coaching staff, players and federation authorities were in their places to move towards their sporting dream.
But, just a few minutes after takeoff, the situation began to anticipate a tragedy. The passengers began to suffer “carbon monoxide poisoning”as stated Tom Saintfiethe coach Belgian from the squad.
There were 9 minutes of uncertainty and panic, until the pilot of the plane decided to return and make an emergency landing in the city of Banjul. According to the preliminary report of the Federation, together with the airline, the technical failure was the result of a loss of pressure and oxygen in the cabin. The lack of oxygen was such that, according to Sanitfiet“Some players They didn’t wake up until after landing“.
“We could all have been dead. We all fell asleep quickly. Me too. I had brief dreams about what my life was like“, said technician Tom Saintfiet and then delved into the details of the situation: “After nine minutes, the pilot decided to return because there was no oxygen supply.
Furthermore, the technician was very critical of the organization made by the Gambia Football Federation: “We are now in the Gambia and we no longer want to fly with an aircraft of this type. It was the smallest they could findperhaps with propellers, for 50 people. As if the only thing that mattered was that it flew. There are limits. I am ready to die for Gambia, but on the football field. I am not willing to die for my work off the field”, concluded the DT.
The story of Saidy Jankofootballer for Young Boys of Switzerland and figure of the Gambia national team” was in line with the coach’s statements. The right-back uploaded a video to his social networks while they were getting off the plane with his teammates in which he described that the situation was “unacceptable.”
Continuing his testimony, Saidy explained that “the inhuman heat mixed with the lack of oxygen that was taking place left many people with severe headaches and extreme dizziness. Furthermore, people began to stay deeply asleep minutes after entering the plane.” Finally, after landing, the player reflected on the situation: “Had it not been for the pilot deciding to return, the consequences could have been much worse. “Knowing what could have happened if we had been exposed to the situation for longer, on a plane, without oxygen…”
Despite the scare, the Gambian team is already in Ivory Coastwhere it will make its premiere on Monday, January 15 against Senegal. Then he will play against Guinea and Cameroon for group C of the Africa Cup of Nations.
Source: Ambito
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