By ACNS staff

The Archbishop of Southern Africa, Thabo Makgoba yesterday sent a message of condolences to the Anglican Bishops of Angola, Mozambique and Namibia following the crash of LAM TM470. 

"Dear People of the Dioceses of Lebombo, Niassa and Angola,

On behalf of the whole Province, I want to express our sorrow and shock at the accident involving LAM Mozambique Airlines flight no. TM470 and the deaths of all those on board.

"We send our condolences to the bereaved and our prayers to you all. We hope that the investigation now under way will establish why the accident happened - although knowing the cause will not bring loved ones back, it is important to know the cause so that remedial action can be taken in future to prevent a repeat. 

"God bless you and your nations at this time of mourning."

LAM Mozambique Airlines Flight 470 was a scheduled LAM Mozambique Airlines passenger flight from Maputo International Airport, Mozambique that crashed on 29 November into the Bwabwata National Park in Namibia en route to Quatro de Fevereiro Airport, Angola.

The aircraft departed Maputo at 11:26 local time (09:26 UTC) and was due to land three hours later, but failed to arrive at its destination. The wreckage of the aircraft was found the following day on 30 November 2013 at the Bwabwata National Park in northern Namibia, halfway between its departure and scheduled arrival airport.

All 33 people, including six crew members, who were on board the aircraft were killed. 

Angola, Mozambique and Namibia are dioceses of the Anglican Church of Southern Africa.