 | Parts of this article (those related to the death toll) need to beupdated. Please help update this article to reflect recent events or newly available information.(June 2024) |
.jpg) TZ-98T, the Ilyushin Il-76TD involved in the accident, pictured under a previous registration in 2016 | |
| Accident | |
|---|---|
| Date | 23 September 2023 (2023-09-23) |
| Summary | Crashed afterrunway excursion for reasons currently unknown |
| Site |
|
| Aircraft | |
| Aircraft type | Ilyushin Il-76TD |
| Operator |  Malian Air Force |
| Registration | TZ-98T |
| Occupants | 140+ (unofficial) |
| Passengers | 133 (unofficial) |
| Crew | 7 (unofficial) |
| Fatalities | 140+ (unofficial) |
| Survivors | 0 |
On 23 September 2023, anIlyushin Il-76 military transport aircraft crashed atGao 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, surpassingAir Algérie Flight 5017 in 2014, as well as the deadliest plane crash in 2023, surpassingYeti Airlines Flight 691.
The aircraft involved in the accident was anIlyushin Il-76strategic 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 theUnited Nations'MINUSMA peacekeeping mission was denied by the UN in a statement given to German newspaperFrankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung.[1]
Local journalists initially reported that the aircraft was operated by Belarusian airlineRubystar Airways, either on behalf of theMalian Armed Forces or the RussianWagner Groupprivate military company,[1] with some outlets stating that the aircraft involved in the crash was carrying the registration EW-412TH.[2][unreliable source?] Later reports suggested that the aircraft was operated directly by theMalian Air Force with the registration TZ-98T.[3][4][5]
The aircraft crashed on the 2,500 metres (8,200 ft) long[6] runway 06L at Gao International Airport, after landing too far down the runway.[5] The aircraft then broke into several parts and caught on fire.[1][3]
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.[7][better source needed] 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.[8][9] It is currently unclear if an investigation is being conducted into the accident.
The aircraft was reportedly affiliated with theWagner Group[1] and was carryingMalian soldiers and members of thePMC.[10] 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.[11] 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.[8][3]
