AU plane catches fire in Mogadishu (Plus Exclusive Pictures from SKYPIRATE)

[Papsakkie]

Somalia Troop carrier into Mog

NAIROBI, March 9 (Reuters) - A plane that transported African Union peacekeepers to Somalia's capital Mogadishu earlier this week was on fire on Friday, an airport security official said.

The official, who declined to be named, had no information on the cause of the fire.

A Reuters witness said: "It's a small fire on the landing gear of the plane."

[NewsRoom]

AU plane catches fire in Mogadishu

Fri, 09 Mar 2007

A Ugandan cargo plane carrying equipment and six soldiers for an African Union peacekeeping force in Somalia caught fire as it landed in Mogadishu on Friday, an army spokesperson and witnesses said.

The cause of the fire was not immediately clear and there no casualties reported.

"The plane carried military equipment and some six soldiers and everything is safe now. We highly believe that the fire was due to some technical problems" Ugandan army spokesperson Paddy Ankunda told AFP.

Witnesses said the planes appeared to have suffered severe damage.

Wings on fire

"I was inside the international airport. I saw a huge plane that was trying to land, then two of its wings caught fire ... then the fire spread to the back of the plane," said a government security official, who declined to be named.

Fire fighters extinguished the fire with help from troops on the plane, he added.

Mohamed Weli, a businessman who was at Mogadishu International Airport at the time, also witnessed the fire.

"I heard a small explosion when the plane landed and then I saw the plane burning at the back and in its wings," Weli said.

The AU peacekeeping force began deploying in Somalia on Tuesday, amid continuing insurgent attacks. Around 1000 Ugandan soldiers have already arrived in the Somali capital.

Islamists, driven out of Mogadishu by the interim government and Ethiopian forces in December, have vowed to fight foreign forces and are thought to be behind almost daily attacks in the city.

[FLY-BY]

Would be interesting to know who it was. Could it be a TransAfrique Hercules? I know they have been flying Ugandan troops from Entebbe to Mongadishu for the African Union.

[FLY-BY]

Made a few phone calls to my buddies in Entebbe. Seems that it was not a TransAfrique Hercules but an Algerian Hercules C130 that burned out in Mogadishu. Seems that they had a technical problem on the ground in Entebbe before taking off because they were seen taxing back to the apron for maintenance before dispatching to Mogadishu. Dont know the extent of the damage to the aircraft, but it sounds like they were already burning before they landed.

Maybe something they were carring caught alight. Troop movements and their equipment has always been risky, because you almost always end up with undeclared Dangerous Goods onboard. Or maybe another Blackhawk down scenario. Slow big Herc on short final, easy target. Lets hope not!

[Gunship]

Thanks for the update fly-by

[SKYPIRATE]

It would appear if the Ugandan and AU officialdom is trying to downplay the cause and nature of the incident.

The aircraft involved was an IL-76 belonging to Transavia Export of the UAE and was chartered by the AU to ferry troops and equipment of the UPDF to Somalia. Following is the crew report shortly after the incident:

"Incident Report
IL-76
Tail No. EW78826
Date: 9 March 07
Location: MGQ

At approximately 0835, sortie #2 was on final approach when it was hit by a projectile, most likely an RPG. The projectile impacted the port side of the fuselage, towards the trailing edge of the wing. The crew advised that at the time of the incident, the aircraft was at an altitude of 120 meters and 2.5to 3 kilometers from the runway threshold. The crew was not able to determine the location that the projectile was fired from, but reported seeing a small boat, which they believe to be the firing platform.

The aircraft was on fire as it landed, with a significant amount of smoke inside the fuselage. As soon as the aircraft came to rest, the crew evacuated though the emergency hatch in the cockpit and the UPDF personnel evacuated thought the starboard door. No serious injuries to report other than miner cuts a scrapes, as well as smoke inhalation.

The aircraft came to rest midway down the runway just adjacent to the taxiway to the commercial terminal and is blocking the runway. We have not been able to lower the cargo ramp yet and to offload the equipment and will attempt to tow the aircraft off the runway with a bulldozer I have requested be brought to MGQ.

Aircraft cargo (BMP?s) appears to be operational and will be confirmed after the offload is completed."

COMMENT

There can be many reasons why the true nature of the incident is being repressed, most importantly because the AU and UPDF do not want the rest of the flying fraternity to realise exactly how precarious and dangerous the situation around Mogadishu airport actually is. Another obviously is that Air Operators will now charge more for the risk to fly into Mogadishu with the resultant higher War Risk Insurance premium caused by the incident.

The aviation community is being let down by all relevant authorities who have not done enough to bring this MANPAD threat at Mogadishu to the attention of the aviation fraternity, especially those flying into Mogadishu for AID Agencies almost on a daily basis.

It will take quite a while still for the UPDF and new-Somali Forces to secure and dominate the approach and departure of Mogadishu Airport.

[SKYPIRATE]

Hi Gunns, or administrator. Afraid I am a bit of an it-idiot and couldnt upload a pic if I wanted to.

Have some nice shots of the holes and damage that clearly illustrates the substantial missile/rocket damage, which I will gladly forward to one of you - if you pm me a suitable e-mail addres, and let the experts do the uploading to this thread.

Worth seeing to know what we are in for, considering the "goodies" or "baddies" are behind arming this malitia (Formerly or still - the Islamics Courts), and their protege's are operational in Sudan and Chad also.

[MysticFlyer]

Hi Skypirate, thanks for the update!

Go to this thread for directions on how to upload photo's (there's also an e-mail address to mail it to.): http://www.flyafrica.info/forums/showthread.php?t=11

[NewsRoom]

Originally Posted by SKYPIRATE

Hi Gunns, or administrator. Afraid I am a bit of an it-idiot and couldnt upload a pic if I wanted to.

Have some nice shots of the holes and damage that clearly illustrates the substantial missile/rocket damage, which I will gladly forward to one of you - if you pm me a suitable e-mail addres, and let the experts do the uploading to this thread.

Worth seeing to know what we are in for, considering the "goodies" or "baddies" are behind arming this malitia (Formerly or still - the Islamics Courts), and their protege's are operational in Sudan and Chad also.

If all else fails : info at flyafrica dot info

[SKYPIRATE]

Newsroom,

Please check your mail @info.

[NewsRoom]

Great Pictures from SKYPIRATE !

[Retired General]

So this is one helluva "cover up" and SKYPIRATE just showed us the opposite of really what happened here !!!

I see 111 people online off which 42 watches this thread

[BoerSeun]

Originally Posted by SKYPIRATE

It would appear if the Ugandan and AU officialdom is trying to downplay the cause and nature of the incident.

The aircraft involved was an IL-76 belonging to Transavia Export of the UAE and was chartered by the AU to ferry troops and equipment of the UPDF to Somalia. Following is the crew report shortly after the incident:

"Incident Report
IL-76
Tail No. EW78826
Date: 9 March 07
Location: MGQ

At approximately 0835, sortie #2 was on final approach when it was hit by a projectile, most likely an RPG. The projectile impacted the port side of the fuselage, towards the trailing edge of the wing. The crew advised that at the time of the incident, the aircraft was at an altitude of 120 meters and 2.5to 3 kilometers from the runway threshold. The crew was not able to determine the location that the projectile was fired from, but reported seeing a small boat, which they believe to be the firing platform.

The aircraft was on fire as it landed, with a significant amount of smoke inside the fuselage. As soon as the aircraft came to rest, the crew evacuated though the emergency hatch in the cockpit and the UPDF personnel evacuated thought the starboard door. No serious injuries to report other than miner cuts a scrapes, as well as smoke inhalation.

The aircraft came to rest midway down the runway just adjacent to the taxiway to the commercial terminal and is blocking the runway. We have not been able to lower the cargo ramp yet and to offload the equipment and will attempt to tow the aircraft off the runway with a bulldozer I have requested be brought to MGQ.

Aircraft cargo (BMP?s) appears to be operational and will be confirmed after the offload is completed."

COMMENT

There can be many reasons why the true nature of the incident is being repressed, most importantly because the AU and UPDF do not want the rest of the flying fraternity to realise exactly how precarious and dangerous the situation around Mogadishu airport actually is. Another obviously is that Air Operators will now charge more for the risk to fly into Mogadishu with the resultant higher War Risk Insurance premium caused by the incident.

The aviation community is being let down by all relevant authorities who have not done enough to bring this MANPAD threat at Mogadishu to the attention of the aviation fraternity, especially those flying into Mogadishu for AID Agencies almost on a daily basis.

It will take quite a while still for the UPDF and new-Somali Forces to secure and dominate the approach and departure of Mogadishu Airport.

SKYPIRATE this is a very informative post. Thanks a lot for that. Knowing Africa and the AU and the likes it does not come as a surprise. You and FlyAfrica can at least set the record straight on this !