Investigation Underway as Plane Crashes at Gao Airport, Mali

Investigation Underway as Plane Crashes at Gao Airport, Mali

Aircraft Crash in Northern Mali

Reports have surfaced about a plane crash that occurred at Gao airport in Mali on Saturday. The specifics concerning the cause of the crash, the type of aircraft involved or the casualties have not been detailed. Investigations are underway to ascertain the circumstances surrounding this incident. Gao, a city located in northern Mali, is home to one of the main military bases from which troops are battling an Islamist insurgency.

The Aircraft and Speculations

The plane is reported to be an IL 76 transport aircraft, a multi-purpose four-engine turbofan strategic airlifter designed by the Soviet Union’s Ilyushin design bureau. The IL 76 was developed to deliver heavy machinery to remote, poorly served areas. There is speculation that the plane may have belonged to the Wagner company, but the causes of the crash remain unknown.

Recent Military Aircraft Incidents

Notably, a Russian-made military airplane belonging to the Malian army crashed while landing at the Gao airport earlier this year. The plane was a Sukhoi SU-25 type combat aircraft returning from a mission to support civilians in the region. The army did not disclose if there were any casualties from this crash, but the incident marked a significant loss for the Malian Armed Forces.

Previous Plane Crashes in Mali

This is not the first plane crash in Mali. In 2014, an Air Algérie flight from Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso to Algiers, Algeria crashed near Gossi, Mali. The McDonnell Douglas MD-83 twinjet with 110 passengers and 6 crew on board disappeared from radar about fifty minutes after take-off. An investigation report published in 2016 concluded that ice accretion on the engines caused a reduction of thrust that led to a high altitude stall. The crew was unable to recover from the stall and the aircraft crashed to the ground.

Continued Investigations

As the investigation continues into the recent plane crash at Gao airport in Mali, many questions remain unanswered. The type of aircraft, the cause of the crash, and the number of casualties are yet to be determined. In a region where military operations are ongoing, such incidents have significant implications. As the world awaits further information, the hope is for a thorough investigation and measures to prevent future incidents.