Aviation accident in Mali
On 23 September 2023, an Ilyushin Il-76 military transport aircraft crashed at Gao International Airport, Mali, after overrunning the runway. The crash reportedly killed up to 140 people. If confirmed, this would make it the deadliest aircraft disaster in the history of Mali, surpassing Air Algérie Flight 5017 in 2014, as well as the deadliest plane crash in 2023, surpassing Yeti Airlines Flight 691.
Aircraft.
The aircraft involved in the accident was an Ilyushin Il-76 strategic airlifter. In the immediate aftermath of the crash it was unclear by whom the aircraft was operated. Speculation that the aircraft was operating on behalf of the United Nations' MINUSMA peacekeeping mission was denied by the UN in a statement given to German newspaper "Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung".
Local journalists initially reported that the aircraft was operated by Belarusian airline Rubystar Airways, either on behalf of the Malian Armed Forces or the Russian Wagner Group private military company, with some outlets stating that the aircraft involved in the crash was carrying the registration EW-412TH. Later reports suggested that the aircraft was operated directly by the Malian Air Force with the registration TZ-98T.
Crash.
The aircraft crashed on the long runway 06L at Gao International Airport, after landing too far down the runway. The aircraft then broke into several parts and caught on fire.
It has not been confirmed how many passengers were on the aircraft, but it is speculated that as many as 140 people may have been on board, of them 7 crew. Though the exact number of casualties remains unclear, it is speculated that the aircraft's Russian pilot and a Malian lieutenant colonel were amongst the fatalities of the crash. It is currently unclear if an investigation is being conducted into the accident.
Affiliation with Wagner Group.
The aircraft was reportedly affiliated with the Wagner Group and was carrying Malian soldiers and members of the PMC. The Telegram account "Grey Zone", which is affiliated with the Wagner Group, denied that there were any PMC members on board at the time of the crash. It is speculated that the aircraft was previously owned by the Wagner Group and then transferred to the Malian Air Force a week before the crash.