2020 African Express Airways Brasilia crash

2020 African Express Airways Brasilia crash

5Y-AXO, the aircraft involved in 2014.
Airliner shootdown
Date	4 May 2020 (2020-05-04)
Summary	Allegedly shot down by Ethiopian National Defense Force
Site	Berdale, Somalia 3°13′N43°10′E / 3.21°N 43.17°E / 3.21; 43.17 [1]
Aircraft
Aircraft type	Embraer EMB 120 Brasilia
Operator	African Express Airways
Registration	5Y-AXO
Flight origin	Baidoa Airport, Baidoa, Somalia
Destination	Berdale Airfield, Berdale, Somalia
Occupants	6
Passengers	4
Crew	2
Fatalities	6
Survivors	0

The 2020 African Express Airways Brasilia crash was an aviation accident involving an African Express Airways Embraer EMB 120 Brasilia that was on approach to Berdale on a chartered cargo flight from Baidoa Airport, Somalia on 4 May 2020 when it was allegedly shot down by ground troops of the Ethiopian National Defense Force. ^[2] All 6 occupants, four non-revenue passengers and two crew, were killed. ^[3] The plane was carrying medical supplies to assist with the COVID-19 pandemic in Somalia, as well as mosquito nets. ^{[4] [5]}

Initial AMISOM report

According to a one-page African Union peacekeeping force incident report that was leaked on Twitter on 10 May, Ethiopian troops not affiliated with the peacekeeping mission fired on the aircraft because it made a non-standard approach from the west instead of the east, and it exhibited an irregular flight path, leading the troops to conclude that it may be engaged in a suicide attack; the report cited a "lack of communication and awareness" by the Ethiopian troops.

However, officials emphasized that the report contains readily apparent contradictions and factual errors, and Smaïl Chergui, the African Union Peace and Security Commissioner, said that the peacekeeping force lacks the expertise to conclusively determine the cause of the crash.

Investigation

A joint accident investigation by officials from Somalia, Ethiopia and Kenya is underway, with preliminary findings expected in 45 days.

A preliminary report was presented by AMISOM on May 9, 2020 on which stated that Ethiopian troops in Berdale had admitted to having shot down the airplane by mistake. The troops at Berdale Airfield wasn't aware of the arrival of the airplane and they deemed the unusual flight path of the low-flying aircraft to be a potential suicide mission searching for a target to attack and therefore shot down the aircraft. ^[2]

In addition to investigating the crash itself, Somali leaders questioned why Ethiopian troops outside the authority of the peacekeeping force were conducting armed operations in Somalia; there has been a history of controversial unauthorized incursions into Somalia by Ethiopian and Kenyan troops pursuing Al-Shabaab militants. ^[4]

As of 2025, no official/final report as been released.^{[ citation needed ]}

See also

• List of aircraft shootdowns

References

1. "Unlawful Interference Embraer EMB-120RT Brasilia 5Y-AXO, Monday 4 May 2020". Aviation Safety Network.
2. "Crash: East African Express E120 at Berdale on May 4th 2020, aircraft shot down by Ethiopian troops". The Aviation Herald. 5 May 2020. Retrieved 10 May 2020.
3. "Six dead as plane carrying coronavirus aid crashes in Somalia". Reuters . 4 May 2020. Retrieved 10 May 2020.
4. Dahir, Abdi Latif (10 May 2020). "Ethiopian Troops May Have Shot Down Aid Plane in Somalia, Report Says" . The New York Times . New York City. Retrieved 31 October 2020. Officials in the region who read the report cautioned against jumping to conclusions before the full investigation is completed, and pointed to clear factual errors in the leaked incident report as well as some contradictions.
5. "Cargo plane "shot down" in Somalia, all occupants killed". Garowe Online. Retrieved 2020-05-22.