http://www.saairforce.co.za/news-and-ev ... ff-taxiway Quote:
Mystery surrounds airforce cargo plane off taxiway
By Dean Wingrin
The circumstances surrounding the taxiing incident where a South African Air Force (SAAF) cargo plane ran off a taxiway this past week is still a mystery.
A photo of the CASA C212 light transport aircraft (serial 8010) stopped partly off a narrow taxiway with its starboard undercarriage stuck in a hole (alternatively collapsed) has been circulating since Monday. The port (left) undercarriage is still on the narrow taxiway whilst the threshold of a runway is in the background, indicating that the aircraft may have just landed and turned off the runway onto the taxiway when the incident occurred. A large puddle of water is seen at the intersection of the runway and taxiway.
Despite repeated requests, the SAAF has yet to confirm the incident, but indicated that a press release would be provided once final approval had been obtained. Thus, the exact date and location is unknown.
The CASA C21M2-200 is operated by 44 Squadron based at AFB Waterkloof and was originally flown by the Bophuthatswana Air Force prior to being incorporated into the SAAF in 1994. It would appear that the aircraft is not substantially damaged.
The SAAF inherited four C212s in 1994 from the air wings of the former Bophuthatswana, Transkei and Venda states. One (8021) was damaged in October 2008 after it got caught in a gust of wind on takeoff from AFB Bloemspruit, whilst 8020 landed heavily on its nose wheel and thereafter ran off the runway at AFB Bloemspruit on 17 January 2013, leaving just two C212s (8011 and 8010) flying.
In May 2017, it was reported that 8020 may be under repair for re-entry into service.