Two Britons die in Botswana plane crash

A light aircraft carrying 12 people crashed after takeoff and burst into flames in Botswana, killing two Britons, one of whom was piloting the plane.

The second Briton was among a group of seven tourists who died, including three French women and three Swedish nationals – two women and a man – an official said yesterday.

The crash occurred on Friday in the southern African nation's remote Okavango Delta, according to Civil Aviation Authority spokesman Modipe Nkwe. He said two French tourists and two Botswana citizens survived.

The chartered Cessna 208, operated by local company Moremi Air, crashed shortly after takeoff from Xakanaka airfield in northern Botswana and was ablaze soon after. The plane had been headed for Pom Pom, a campsite famous for birds and other wildlife.

According to reports, Moremi Air chief executive Sue Smart said that the pilot was the company's most experienced with more than 12,000 hours of flying.