Accidents & Incidents Trails: Week 24, 2026

An EgyptAir Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner (SU-GEW, MSN 65093/885), built in 2019 and operating a non-scheduled passenger charter flight from Jeddah (King Abdulaziz International Airport) to Conakry (Gbessia International Airport), experienced an en-route birdstrike while beginning its descent over BURKINA FASO on 14 June 2026 at around 03:10 UTC. The aircraft, which was carrying 308 occupants, was reportedly chartered for Hajj pilgrimage return operations from SAUDI ARABIA. Following the incident, the crew diverted the flight to Bamako as a precautionary measure, where it landed safely without any fatalities or injuries. The aircraft’s condition remains officially unconfirmed, though initial reports indicate it sustained no catastrophic damage.

A Busy Bee Congo Fokker 50 (5U-NAA, MSN 20313), powered by Pratt & Whitney Canada PW125B engines, was involved in an incident on 17 June 2026 while conducting a passenger landing operation at an unspecified airport in the DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO. During the landing phase, the aircraft reportedly suffered an engine failure, prompting an incident classification and triggering an ongoing investigation. No fatalities or injuries have been reported, and the extent of aircraft damage remains unconfirmed at this stage.

A DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO Air Force Sukhoi Su-25 was reported to have crashed on 17 June 2026 near Kindu in the DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO while on a military flight under unknown circumstances. The aircraft was destroyed in the accident, though full operational details, including registration, mission profile, and occupancy, have not been disclosed. The incident occurred during the en-route phase, and no confirmed information on fatalities or injuries has been released at the time of reporting. The cause of the crash remains undetermined, with investigations expected to focus on technical, operational, and environmental factors surrounding the loss of the aircraft.

On 16 June 2026, a tragic incident occurred at London Gatwick Airport when the body of a man was discovered in the landing gear compartment of an Air Arabia flight arriving from Tangier, MOROCCO, shortly after it landed at approximately 11:45 BST. Emergency services were called immediately after the discovery, and Sussex Police launched an investigation in coordination with HM Coroner to establish the circumstances surrounding the death. Gatwick Airport confirmed its cooperation with the ongoing inquiries, while Air Arabia has been contacted for comment. The incident highlights the persistent and highly dangerous issue of aircraft stowaways, as survival in landing gear compartments is extremely unlikely due to hypoxia, extreme cold, and mechanical risks at cruising altitude, with similar cases having occurred previously at Gatwick.

At least 35 people were killed when gunmen attacked Diori Hamani International Airport in Niamey, NIGER, in a coordinated assault on Thursday, marking the second major attack on the facility in less than five months. According to NIGER’S defence ministry, the dead included 22 attackers, 11 soldiers, and 2 civilians, while additional suspects were arrested and weapons including assault rifles, explosives, and rocket-propelled grenades were seized during security operations. The attack, later claimed by the al-Qaeda-linked group JNIM, triggered heavy gunfire and explosions near the airport, which also serves as a key military base hosting facilities linked to the Alliance of Sahel States (AES). Security forces eventually regained control and launched a manhunt for remaining militants, while local residents reported chaos as attackers reportedly blended into surrounding communities. The incident underscores the persistent insecurity in NIGER’S capital amid a decade-long jihadist insurgency in the Sahel region, with authorities continuing to strengthen airport defences following previous assaults.