African Aviation Trails

In this trail: Military and aerial operations in Africa were marked by two fatal aircraft accidents, with a Moroccan Civil Protection firefighting aircraft crashing during a wildfire mission near Rabat, killing the pilot, and an Africa Corps Sukhoi Su-24 reportedly being shot down during operations in northern Mali, with investigations ongoing.

This edition covers several aircraft incidents under investigation, including a fatal training flight crash in South Africa, landing incidents involving aircraft in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and the reported destruction of a military unmanned aerial vehicle during ongoing conflict in Sudan. It also revisits one of aviation's most significant historical events following the release of newly declassified documents on the 1976 Entebbe hostage rescue operation, offering fresh insights into the strategic planning behind the landmark mission ahead of its 50th anniversary. Together, these developments underscore the continued importance of aviation safety, accident investigation, operational resilience, conflict-related aviation risks, and the enduring influence of historic events on modern aviation security and crisis management.

An EgyptAir Boeing 787-9 safely diverted to Bamako after a birdstrike over Burkina Faso during a Hajj charter flight from Jeddah, with no injuries reported. In the DRC, a Busy Bee Congo Fokker 50 suffered an engine failure during landing, while a separate Su-25 military aircraft crashed near Kindu under unclear circumstances. At London Gatwick, authorities are investigating the death of a suspected stowaway found in an Air Arabia aircraft landing gear. In Niger, an attack on Niamey airport killed at least 35 people, including soldiers and attackers, amid ongoing Sahel insecurity. Meanwhile, Malawi’s parliamentary probe into the 2024 military aircraft crash has raised concerns over missing evidence and procedural lapses in earlier investigations.

In Egypt, a training aircraft operated by the Egyptian Aviation Academy crashed during a training flight, killing two crew members and injuring a trainee pilot. In Nigeria, the NCAA suspended the Air Operator Certificate of Best Aircraft Deals LLC after one of its business jets made an unauthorized departure following a precautionary road landing near Asaba. Elsewhere, a KLM Boeing 777 safely returned to Accra after a suspected onboard fire scare, while Kenya's Jomo Kenyatta International Airport temporarily diverted inbound flights to Mombasa during a planned full-scale emergency response exercise aimed at testing airport preparedness.

In Mali, drone attacks by Malian rebels reportedly damaged a Russian Africa Corps-operated Mil Mi-24 helicopter and an Aero L-39 Albatros at Mopti Airport, underscoring the growing threat posed by unmanned systems to military aviation in the Sahel. In Kenya, a privately operated Socata TBM700 safely executed a landing after a nose landing gear collapse at Olkiombo Airstrip, with no injuries reported. Meanwhile, renewed analysis of the 2015 Metrojet Flight 9268 disaster in Egypt highlighted continuing uncertainty over the cause of the crash, with investigators yet to conclusively determine whether terrorism or an internal failure was responsible.

Several aviation safety and security incidents were reported across Africa during the period. In South Africa, a privately operated Cessna 172 crashed near Secunda, injuring the pilot, who survived the accident. In Sudan, a CH-95 unmanned combat drone was shot down during ongoing military operations, highlighting the growing role of unmanned aerial systems in the conflict. Meanwhile, an easyJet flight bound for Egypt diverted to Crete after an unruly passenger disrupted the flight, with local authorities removing the individual before the aircraft safely continued to Hurghada.

In South Africa, a privately operated Jabiru J430 successfully executed a precautionary beach landing after suspected fuel contamination, while South African Airways came under regulatory investigation over the delayed reporting of a serious landing incident at Cape Town. In Kenya, a Kasas Kenya Dornier 228 sustained landing gear damage during landing at Wilson Airport, and a Kenya Airways Embraer E190 safely returned to Entebbe following a bird strike shortly after takeoff. Elsewhere, a Bayraktar Akinci military drone reportedly operated by the Ethiopian Air Force was shot down during combat operations in Sudan's Blue Nile region.

Africa’s aviation sector recorded several notable safety-related events during the period.

A Camair-Co Boeing 737 safely diverted after a bird strike shortly after departure from Yaoundé, while Kenya Airways grounded an aircraft following significant bird strike damage sustained on arrival in Cape Town. Ethiopian Airlines temporarily disrupted services to Mekelle due to technical issues affecting destination airport operations, and humanitarian flights to Khartoum remained suspended following renewed drone attacks on Sudan's capital. Elsewhere, an international air ambulance transporting suspected hantavirus patients was forced to reroute after being denied access to Moroccan airspace, highlighting the operational complexities associated with cross-border medical evacuations.