A Kenyan-registered cargo plane crashed in Somalia on Saturday, claiming the lives of all five people on board, the Somali Civil Aviation Authority (SCAA) has confirmed.
The aircraft, a DHC-5D Buffalo with serial number 109 and registration 5Y-RBA, was operated by Trident Aviation Ltd, a Kenyan aviation company. It went down at approximately 5:43 PM local time, about 24 kilometers southwest of Mogadishu, while returning from Dhobley town in the Lower Juba region.
In an official statement on Sunday, the SCAA confirmed:
“There were five persons on board (POB), all of whom tragically lost their lives. The flight had departed from Dhobley (HCDB) and was en route to Aden Abdulle International Airport (HCMM).”
The nationalities of the victims were not immediately disclosed. However, preliminary reports suggest that four of the five victims were Kenyan nationals.
Mission Details & Possible Technical Issues
According to officials, the plane had successfully delivered supplies to the African Union forces before departing for Mogadishu. Reports indicate that the aircraft had experienced mechanical issues earlier in Dhobley, but it was repaired before takeoff for its final flight.
Investigation & Response
Search and rescue teams, including government agencies and their partners, were quickly dispatched to the crash site. An investigation into the cause of the accident is ongoing, with authorities working to determine whether mechanical failure, weather conditions, or other factors contributed to the crash.
As more details emerge, aviation experts and safety officials will assess the incident to improve flight safety measures in the region.
Stay tuned for further updates on this developing story.
