A video from what appears to be a security camera at Gao International Airport was shared on Telegram showing the Malian Air Force Il-76 freighter crashing after landing on September 23.
The aircraft with registration TZ-98T appears landing on the 2,500 meter long runway, apparently at high speed. The pilots are unable to reduce the speed of the four-engine jet, which then exceeds the limits of the runway and falls into an embankment ahead.
Soon after, a huge column of black smoke appears as the aircraft catches fire.
A video shared on Telegram shows the September 23 crash of a Mali Air Force Ilyushin Il-76 at Gao, Mali. The aircraft touched down late, overran the runway and went down an embankment. pic.twitter.com/aUuJXqIFna
— Aviation Safety Network (ASN) (@AviationSafety) September 27, 2023
The accident has not yet received an official statement from the Malian government. It is not known how many people were on the aircraft or whether there were any victims, which is likely given the severity shown in the video.
The Ilyushin Il-76 has been linked to the Russian mercenary group Wagner, but this has not been confirmed.
Located in West Africa, Mali is in civil war after Islamic separatist groups try to overthrow the military government, which came to power after a coup d’état in 2020.
Follow ADN: Instagram | Twitter | Facebook
To try to contain the rebellions, the government reportedly hired the Wagner paramilitary group to fight alongside the country’s armed forces.
