The Air Namibia Flight Home from Katima Mulilo

The B1900 waiting for us on the tarmac at Mpacha (Katima Mulilo)

There was nearly a riot at Mpacha (Katima Mulilio) Airport Monday afternoon whilst checking in for the B1900 flight to Eros Windhoek.

The clever Air Namibia check- in clerk booked in so much excess baggage (from foreign hunting tourists) that the plane was overweight.

“We have a problem”, announced the Air Namibia clerk just before boarding, “we are overweight”.

“Why did you book in that excess luggage” was our reply. No answer.

What to do now.

They took all the luggage off the plane.

Then what to do.

After deliberation, they decided to weigh the passengers. That was going to be no use I thought, as one glance around, there were only fatties on this flight. Still, one by one we all took turns on the scale, and yes we were now more overweight than before.

Now what to do. We all stood around waiting.

Then our not so favourite Air Namibia chap announced, “we will have to leave baggage behind”.

This resulted in a new mass protest…."take off the hunters excess baggage", everyone protested, “we are all under our allowable weight”. But our not so endearing Air Namibia clerk did not think this was a good idea. Then the shouting started, and everyone braced themselves for fisticuffs. No one was going to leave their bags behind just so the hunters could take their excess baggage along and the hunters were just as determined not to leave their precious weaponry behind.

Now what to do. And once again we waited.

Then our Air Namibia chap said, “we need a few volunteers to leave their bags behind”. So reluctantly, as it was now getting late, a few pax volunteered their baggage, just so we could get going.

“Still need another 6 kg” shouted our Air Nam guy. "Ok ok" , I gave them my 6 kg bag which they promised to send by Nampost.The luggage was re-loaded on the plane, and we were soon on our way, my 6kg bag having saved the day.

Of course, no thanks from the foreign hunting tourists.