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2020 African Express Airways Brasilia crash

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2020 African Express Airways Brasilia crash
5Y-AXO, the aircraft involved in 2014.
Airliner shootdown
Date4 May 2020 (2020-05-04)
SummaryAllegedly shot down by Ethiopian National Defense Force
SiteBerdale, Somalia
Aircraft
Aircraft typeEmbraer EMB 120 Brasilia
OperatorAfrican Express Airways
Registration5Y-AXO
Flight originBaidoa Airport, Baidoa, Somalia
DestinationBerdale Airfield, Berdale, Somalia
Occupants6
Passengers4
Crew2
Fatalities6
Survivors0

The 2020 African Express Airways Brasilia crash was an aviation accident involving an African Express Airways Embraer EMB 120 Brasilia that was on approach to Berdale on a chartered cargo flight from Baidoa Airport, Somalia on 4 May 2020 when it was allegedly shot down by ground troops of the Ethiopian National Defense Force.[1] All six occupants, four non-revenue passengers and two crew, were killed.[2] The plane was carrying medical supplies to assist with the COVID-19 pandemic in Somalia, as well as mosquito nets.[3][4]

Incident and Investigation

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According to a one-page African Union peacekeeping force incident report that was leaked on Twitter on 10 May, Ethiopian troops not affiliated with the peacekeeping mission fired on the aircraft because it made a non-standard approach from the west instead of the east, and it exhibited an irregular flight path, leading the troops to conclude that it may be engaged in a suicide attack; the report cited a "lack of communication and awareness" by the Ethiopian troops. However, officials emphasized that the report contains readily apparent contradictions and factual errors, and Smaïl Chergui, the African Union Peace and Security Commissioner, said that the peacekeeping force lacks the expertise to conclusively determine the cause of the crash; a joint accident investigation by officials from Somalia, Ethiopia and Kenya was initiated, with preliminary findings expected in 45 days.[3]

Current Status

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The investigation stalled due to geopolitical tensions among Somalia, Kenya, and Ethiopia, exacerbated by regional conflicts and issues related to Ethiopian troops' unauthorized presence in Somalia. Efforts to produce a comprehensive report have been hampered by differing narratives from the involved countries. Families of the victims have repeatedly called for an independent international inquiry to provide accountability and justice.[5]

Meanwhile, the crash highlighted the complex security dynamics in Somalia and the risks posed by the presence of foreign troops outside official mandates. Discussions at the African Union and the United Nations have included calls for greater oversight of military operations by foreign forces within Somalia.[6]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Crash: East African Express E120 at Berdale on May 4th 2020, aircraft shot down by Ethiopian troops". The Aviation Herald. 5 May 2020. Retrieved 10 May 2020.
  2. ^ "Six dead as plane carrying coronavirus aid crashes in Somalia". Reuters. 4 May 2020. Retrieved 10 May 2020.
  3. ^ a b Dahir, Abdi Latif (10 May 2020). "Ethiopian Troops May Have Shot Down Aid Plane in Somalia, Report Says". The New York Times. New York City. Retrieved 31 October 2020. Officials in the region who read the report cautioned against jumping to conclusions before the full investigation is completed, and pointed to clear factual errors in the leaked incident report as well as some contradictions.
  4. ^ "Cargo plane "shot down" in Somalia, all occupants killed". Garowe Online. Retrieved 2020-05-22.
  5. ^ "Somalia crash: Families demand justice for 'avoidable' plane shooting". BBC News. 6 July 2020. Retrieved 7 December 2024.
  6. ^ "UN debates foreign troop oversight in Somalia after crash". United Nations. 30 June 2020. Retrieved 7 December 2024.

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