Drone Crash Shuts Down Mali’s Gao Airport

Drone Crash Shuts Down Mali’s Gao Airport

A drone crashed into a truck on the runway of Gao International Airport in Mali, causing significant damage and prompting the authorities to close the airport for security reasons.

The incident occurred around 9 a.m. local time on Monday, May 22, 2023, and was quickly brought under control by the airport staff and security forces. No injuries or casualties were reported, but the airport operations were suspended for several hours until the runway was cleared and inspected.

Why did it happen?

The exact cause of the drone crash is still under investigation, but some sources suggest that it was an accident involving a recreational drone that flew too close to the airport area. According to the airport director, Mr Abdoulaye Maiga, the drone operator violated the regulations that prohibit flying drones within 5 kilometres of any airport.

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He also said that the airport has a radar system that can detect and track drones, but it was not activated at the time of the incident. He apologized for the inconvenience caused to the passengers and assured them that measures will be taken to prevent such incidents in the future.

What are the consequences?

The drone crash disrupted the normal functioning of Gao International Airport, which is one of the main airports in Mali and serves both civilian and military flights. The airport is also used by several international organizations and missions, such as the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA), the French Operation Barkhane, and the German Camp Castor.

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Some of these flights had to be diverted or delayed due to the closure of the airport. The incident also raised concerns about the safety and security of air traffic in Mali, where drones are becoming more popular and accessible. The authorities have announced that they will increase their surveillance and enforcement of drone regulations, as well as improve their coordination with other stakeholders.

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