Plane Crash Blamed on Crocodile

The sole survivor of a plane crash in the Congo says an escaped crocodile is to blame for the tragedy. The crocodile had been smuggled on board in a sports bag and sparked panic after it freed itself, causing a stampede of passengers which destabilized the plane and caused the crash, the survivor says. Nineteen people, including the British pilot, died, the Guardian reports.

The crocodile reportedly survived the crash but was killed with a machete by rescuers. A British expert investigating the tragedy says that while it is possible that a movement of passengers to the front of the plane caused the crash, he's skeptical about the crocodile's involvement. "If this were the cause of the accident it is truly extraordinary," he said. "I would say it's extremely unlikely this story holds water, but I wouldn't rule it out completely." (More crocodile stories.)