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2023 Gao Ilyushin Il-76 crash

From Alfawiki
Rubystar Airways
Company typeAirline
IndustryAviation
Headquarters
Belarus


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On 23 September 2023, a military transport Ilyushin Il-76 aircraft crashed following a runway overrun at Gao International Airport in Mali. The accident reportedly resulted in up to 140 fatalities. If verified, this would represent Mali's deadliest aviation catastrophe, exceeding the death toll of Air Algérie Flight 5017 in 2014, and would also be the most fatal airplane accident worldwide in 2023, surpassing Yeti Airlines Flight 691.

Aircraft

The aircraft involved was an Ilyushin Il-76 strategic airlifter. Immediately after the crash, the operator of the aircraft remained unclear. The United Nations denied claims that the plane was operating under the auspices of its MINUSMA peacekeeping mission in a statement provided to the German newspaper Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung.[1]

Initial reports from local media suggested that Belarusian carrier Rubystar Airways operated the aircraft, possibly on behalf of either the Malian Armed Forces or the Russian private military company known as the Wagner Group.[1] Some sources indicated that the aircraft bore the registration EW-412TH.[2]Template:Unreliable source? Subsequent information pointed to direct operation by the Malian Air Force, with the aircraft registered as TZ-98T.[3][4][5]

Crash

The aircraft came down on runway 06L at Gao International Airport, which measures approximately 2,500 metres (8,200 ft) in length, after touching down too far along the strip. Following the landing, the plane fragmented into multiple pieces and subsequently ignited.

Although the precise number of passengers aboard has not been verified, estimates suggest there may have been up to 140 individuals on the flight, including 7 crew members. While casualty figures remain uncertain, reports indicate that among those who lost their lives were the Russian pilot and a Malian lieutenant colonel. At present, it is unknown whether any formal inquiry into the crash is underway.

Affiliation with Wagner Group

The aircraft was reportedly linked to the Wagner Group and was transporting both Malian military personnel and members of the PMC. However, the Telegram channel "Grey Zone," associated with Wagner, refuted claims that PMC operatives were present on board during the incident. It is believed that the plane had previously belonged to Wagner before being handed over to the Malian Air Force roughly one week prior to the accident.

See also

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References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named faz
  2. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named airspaceafrica
  3. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named flightglobal
  4. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named parken
  5. ↑ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2123: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).

Template:Aviation accidents and incidents in 2023

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