2023 Gao Ilyushin Il-76 crash

{{Infobox aircraft occurrence

| image = File:RA-76352 (8221278).jpg

| caption = TZ-98T, the Ilyushin Il-76TD involved in the accident, pictured under a previous registration in 2016

| occurrence_type = Accident

| date = {{start date|2023|9|23|df=y}}

| summary = Crashed after runway excursion for reasons currently unknown

| site = Gao International Airport, Gao, Mali

| aircraft_type = Ilyushin Il-76TD

| operator = {{Air force|MLI}}

| tail_number = TZ-98T

| crew = 7 (unofficial)

| occupants = 140+ (unofficial)

| fatalities = 140+ (unofficial)

| survivors = Unknown

}}

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.{{Cite news |last=Franke |first=Martin |date=2023-09-23 |title=Mali: Wem gehört das abgestürzte russische Transportflugzeug? |language=de |trans-title=Mali: Who owns the crashed Russian transport plane? |work=Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung |url=https://www.faz.net/aktuell/politik/ausland/mali-wem-gehoert-das-abgestuerzte-russische-transportflugzeug-19195661.html |url-status=live |access-date=2023-09-29 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230927185526/https://www.faz.net/aktuell/politik/ausland/mali-wem-gehoert-das-abgestuerzte-russische-transportflugzeug-19195661.html |archive-date=2023-09-27 |issn=0174-4909}}

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.{{Cite web |last=Odhiambo |first=Victor Shalton |date=2023-09-23 |title=Ilyushin Il-76 Cargo Plane Possibly Tied to Wagner Group Crashes in Mali |url=https://airspace-africa.com/2023/09/23/ilyushin-il-76-cargo-plane-possibly-tied-to-wagner-group-crashes-in-mali/ |access-date=2023-09-27 |website=Airspace Africa}}{{unreliable source?|date=September 2023}} Later reports suggested that the aircraft was operated directly by the Malian Air Force with the registration TZ-98T.{{Cite news |last=Finnerty |first=Ryan |date=2023-09-28 |title=Footage emerges of fiery Il-76 crash in Mali |publisher=FlightGlobal |url=https://www.flightglobal.com/fixed-wing/footage-emerges-of-fiery-il-76-crash-in-mali/155151.article |access-date=2023-09-29}}{{Cite news |last=Fourt |first=Olivier |last2=Genevrier |first2=Grégory |date=2023-09-27 |title=Mali: anatomie du crash d'un Ilyushin Il-76 à l'aéroport de Gao |language=fr |trans-title=Mali: Anatomy of the crash of an Ilyushin Il-76 at Gao airport |publisher=Radio France Internationale |url=https://www.rfi.fr/fr/afrique/20230927-mali-anatomie-du-crash-d-un-ilyushin-il-76-%C3%A0-l-a%C3%A9roport-de-gao}}{{Cite web |last=Parken |first=Oliver |date=2023-09-27 |title=Il-76 Cargo Jet's Disastrous Landing In Mali Captured On Video |url=https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/il-76-cargo-jets-disastrous-landing-in-mali-captured-on-video |access-date=2023-09-29 |website=The Drive}}

Crash

The aircraft crashed on the {{convert|2500|m|ft}} long{{SkyVector|GAGO}} 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.{{Cite web |title=More than a hundred Wagnerians were killed: footage of the plane crash in Mali has emerged |url=https://sundries.com.ua/en/more-than-a-hundred-wagnerians-were-killed-footage-of-the-plane-crash-in-mali-has-emerged/amp/ |access-date=2023-09-27 |website=SUNDRIES}}{{better source needed|date=September 2023}} 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.{{Cite web |last=Varley |first=Len |date=2023-09-27 |title=Ilyushin Il-76 destroyed in landing accident in Mali |url=https://aviationsourcenews.com/incident/ilyushin-il-76-destroyed-in-landing-incident-in-mali/ |access-date=2023-09-27 |website=AviationSource News}}{{Cite news |date=2023-09-27 |title=Mali Junta Pays Tribute To Officer After Fatal Plane Crash |work=Barron's |agency=Agence France-Presse |url=https://www.barrons.com/articles/mali-junta-pays-tribute-to-officer-after-fatal-plane-crash-1998878c |access-date=2023-09-27}} 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.{{Cite news |last=Struck |first=Julia |date=2023-09-27 |title=Footage Emerges of Il-76 Plane Crash in Mali, Wagner Mercs Killed |language=en |work=Kyiv Post |url=https://www.kyivpost.com/post/22055 |access-date=2023-09-27}} 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.{{Cite web |last=Dmytriieva |first=Daria |date=2023-09-24 |title=IL-76 crashed in Mali - Might connected to Wagner PMC |url=https://newsukraine.rbc.ua/news/il-76-crashed-in-mali-might-connected-to-1695524767.html |access-date=2023-09-27 |website=RBC-Ukraine}} 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.

References

Category:Aviation accidents and incidents in 2023

Category:Accidents and incidents involving the Ilyushin Il-76

Category:2023 disasters in Mali

Category:Aviation accidents and incidents involving runway excursions

Category:Wagner Group activities in Mali

Category:September 2023 in Mali

Category:Aviation accidents and incidents in Mali

Ilyushin Il-76 crash, 2023

Category:Filmed deaths during aviation accidents and incidents

2023 Gao Ilyushin Il-76 crash

Aircraft

Crash

Affiliation with Wagner Group

See also

References