Berry Aviation Embraer EMB-120
Taken by Caleb A. @newmexico_aviation on IG
Yesterday, an Africa Express Airways Embraer EMB-120 was delivering medical supplies to the North of Somalia when it crashed on approach to El Bardale. All six people onboard are reported to be killed, according to the Somali transport minister.
State-run Somalia News Agency said on their website: “The plane from Mogadishu flew to Baidoa and then continued its flight to Bardale town where it crashed.” “It is not clear why it crashed.”
The six people onboard consisted of the pilot, copilot, flight engineer and a trainee pilot, as well as two people working for the airline according to the Minister for Transport Mohamed Salad who then told Reuters. He has also revealed that five bodies have been recovered so far.
The Somali transport minister didn't comment on the cause of the crash. However, there has been witnesses who have stated that they had seen the aircraft get shot down. There is speculation around who shot down the aircraft but it appears that it may have been the accidentally shot by the Ethiopian troops on the site. According to a witness who told Abdirashid Abdullahi Mohamed, the Somali former Minister of Defence who went on tell to tell Reuters, the aircraft had been attempting to land but had to perform a go around due to wildlife on the airfield. On its second approach, it appears that it was shot on one of its wings and proceeded to crash. This hasn't been confirmed.
The airfield in the town of Bardale is surrounded and secured by Somali forces and Ethiopian troops. Ethiopia has troops in Baidoa and Bardale as part of an African Union peacekeeping mission. The spokesperson for their army stated that he was unaware of the crash.
According to the Somali Minister for Transport, they are welcoming international assistance as they send a unit to investigate the incident today.
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