MOGADISHU (Somaliguardian) – A cargo aircraft operated by Trident Aviation Ltd crashed approximately 24 kilometers south of Somalia’s capital, Mogadishu, on Saturday afternoon, killing all five crew members on board, the Somali Civil Aviation Authority (SCAA) confirmed on Sunday. The cause of the crash remains under investigation.
The aircraft, a DHC-5D Buffalo with serial number 5Y-RBA, was en route from the Somali border town of Dhobley and was minutes away from landing at Mogadishu’s Aden Adde International Airport when the incident occurred.
Somali security forces and African Union peacekeepers swiftly responded to the scene, but search operations were hampered by the onset of dusk, delaying the recovery of the wreckage.
The nationalities of the victims have not yet been officially confirmed, though preliminary reports suggest all five were Kenyan nationals. Authorities are working to verify their identities.
Cargo aircraft are frequently chartered by authorities and humanitarian agencies in Somalia to transport goods and supplies across regions, particularly in areas where road travel is perilous due to the presence of Al-Shabaab militants. The group controls key routes in southern Somalia, making air transport a critical, albeit risky, alternative. Many flights rely on makeshift airstrips, which are often unsuitable for larger aircraft.
This incident marks another grim reminder of the logistical challenges and dangers faced in Somalia’s fragile operating environment, where both infrastructure and security remain significant obstacles to safe transportation.
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