Mali: Military aircraft crashes at Gao during support mission operation

A Russia-made military aircraft belonging to the Malian army crashed at Gao airport in the north of the African country, following a support mission to local population, the army indicated in a statement.

A Sukhoi SU-25 fighter jet belonging to the Malian Armed Forces crashed while landing at the airport in the northern Mali city of Gao, on its way back from a mission to support the civilian population of the region, the General Staff of the Armed Forces said in the statement.

Two army personnel, the pilot and a military aircraft personnel on the ground, were killed and 10 people, including two civilians were injured in the crash, the army said.

The incident is being investigated, although “at this stage” it does not appear to be the result of “hostile action”, the statement said.

Mali, led by a transition government, headed by Col. Assimi Goita, has recently bolstered ties with Russia as part of strategies to diversify partners in the fight against terrorism.

The country took delivery in August of more than six L-39 and SU-25 fighter planes, Mi-8 maneuvering helicopters, an Airbus Casa 295 tactical transport plane, and other weapons of war and ammunition.