MOGADISHU, Somalia — A Kenyan-registered cargo plane crashed near Mogadishu, Somalia, on Saturday, killing all five crew members on board, the Somalia Civil Aviation Authority said.
The aircraft, a DHC-5D Buffalo with serial number 109 and registration 5Y-RBA, went down about 24 kilometers (15 miles) southwest of the capital at approximately 5:43 p.m. local time. The plane was operated by Trident Aviation Limited, a Kenya-based company, and was returning from Dhobley town in the Lower Juba region after delivering supplies to African Union forces.
“There were five persons on board, all of whom tragically lost their lives,” the authority said in a statement issued hours after the crash was confirmed. The flight was en route to Aden Adde International Airport in Mogadishu when the incident occurred.
Dhobley serves as the headquarters for the African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM) troops from Kenya, who operate in Sector II of Jubaland state. The identities of the crew members were not immediately released.
The Somalia Civil Aviation Authority expressed condolences to the families of the deceased and said government agencies, along with partners, were on-site conducting search and rescue operations. The cause of the crash remains under investigation, with more details expected as aviation teams gather additional information.
Somalia’s poor road infrastructure has made air transport a preferred option for many, offering a faster and safer alternative amid the ongoing threat of al-Shabaab militants. Authorities noted there is no evidence suggesting the group, which lacks known capabilities to down aircraft, was involved in the incident.
