Kenya’s foreign ministry is calling on Somalia to launch a “swift” investigation into yesterday’s plane crash that killed all six people on board a Kenyan medical cargo plane delivering humanitarian aid south of Somalia.
The plane was filled with supplies directed at helping Somalia in its fight against the coronavirus. The aircraft took off from Somalia’s capital, Mogadishu, and made a stop elsewhere prior to its crash at Bardel airport, an Ethiopian military base under the multinational African Union mission. A regional administration official told The Associated Press the plane was shot down, by a projectile, during its descent. The claim was backed by Somalia's former defence minister.
However, Somalia’s transport minister refused to confirm nor deny reports suggesting the plane was shot down, despite wreckage marks showing otherwise.
No suspects nor potential causes for the plane crash have been announced by the Somalian government. However, the area of the crash itself is known for harboring insurgent groups like al-Shabab.
Prior to the plane crash, the pilots made two attempts to land. The first attempt went off the rail when wildlife was spotted on the airstrip. It's during the second attempt when the plane burst into flames and came tumbling down, according to local officials on the ground.
Among the victims are two Kenyan pilots and four Somali nationals.
In a statement, the transport ministry expressed its “deep regret” of the incident and committed to conducting a thorough investigation into the crash.
The alleged shooting comes amidst strained relations between Kenya and Somalia. It's only last month when Kenya accused Somalia of unwarranted attacks on its shared border crossing point, Mandera. By: Niza Nondo
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