Kenyan Cargo Plane Crashes in Somalia, Killing All 5 Crew Members

MOGADISHU, Somalia - An aircraft registered in Kenya crashed at least 24 kilometers southwest of Mogadishu, the capital of Somalia, the Somalia Civil Aviation Authority (SCAA) said, noting that all the crew members on board 'tragically' perished on the spot.

The cargo plane was returning from Dhobley town in Lower Juba region after delivering supplies to the African Union forces when it crashed on Saturday at around 5:43 pm local time, the Aviation Authority said, while condoling with the families of the deceased.

Dhobley is the headquarters of the African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM) troops from Kenya who operate Sector II within Jubaland state. The identities of the crew members were not immediately revealed.

"The aircraft involved was DHC-5D Buffalo with serial number 109 and registration 5Y-RBA," the Authority said in a statement, a few hours after the crash was confirmed. The team was about to land at Aden Adde International Airport in Mogadishu.

"There were five persons on board, all of them who have tragically lost their lives. The flight departed from Dhobley and was headed to Aden Adde International Airport in Mogadishu," the report further read.

With the aviation teams working to get more information, it was established that the aircraft was operated and registered in Kenya. The Authority stated that Trident Aviation Limited, which operates in Kenya, owns the aircraft.

"The aircraft was operated by Trident Aviation Limited, and government agencies and partners are already on-site for search and rescue missions. More updates will be provided when information is available."

Somalia's dilapidated road infrastructure makes many people prefer air transport which is faster, safer, and secure due to the Al-Shabaab menace in the country. The al-Shabaab does not have the capability to down aircraft — or, at least there is no evidence linking them to such scenarios.

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