Tongan Aircraft Accident

Real Tonga airline's Beech Queen Air, A3-CIA crashed at 'Eua in Tonga this morning after a landing gear failure. Thankfully there were no injuries.

A rather sorry looking Beech Queen Air A3-CIA at 'Eua on 30 April 2014. Source : http://www.nzkanivapacific.co.nz/

A3-CIA has a New Zealand history where it operated in New Zealand for Port Hutt Air as ZK-WKA from February 2002 until 2004 (http://3rdlevelnz.blogspot.co.nz/2010/06/ex-port-hutt-air-queen-air-for-chathams.html). It's last flight in New Zealand as ZK-WKA was from Paraparaumu to Palmerston North on the 11th of October 2004.

The new Beech Queen Air ZK-WKA about to depart Nelson on the 3rd of November 2003.

For some years WKA lay rather forlornly at Palmerston North Airport but in 2010 it was brought up to flyable standard and was registered as A3-CIA for Chathams Pacific’s Tongan operation.

The once again flyable Beech Queen Air A3-CIA arriving at Auckland on 15 June 2010 en route to Tonga

Chathams Pacific ceased operations on the 2nd of March 2013 but the Queen Air was leased by the new Tongan airline, Real Tonga. Subsequently A3-CIA was sold to Real Tonga and repainted in their colours.

Beech Queen Air A3-CIA arriving into Fua'amotu on 13 January 2014. 

One wonders what the aircraft's fate will be after today's incident!