Kenya’s foreign ministry is seeking an immediate investigation of the country’s humanitarian private cargo plane which crashed while helping in the fight against coronavirus in Somalia, killing at least six people onboard.
Officials said the people were onboard for the short flight from Baidoa to Bardale, some 300 kilometres (180 miles) northwest of Somalia’s capital Mogadishu when the crash occurred.
“The aircraft was about to land at the Bardale airstrip when it crashed and burst into flames. All six people onboard died in the incident,” Abdulahi Isack, a local police official said.
“We don’t know what exactly caused the aircraft carrying medical supplies to crash, but there is an investigation going on to establish the details.”
Kenya urged Somalia “to thoroughly and swiftly investigate the matter because it impacts humanitarian operations at a time of highest need”.
“The incident occurred under unclear circumstances,” the foreign ministry said in a statement, expressing “deep shock and regret” while offering condolences to the families of the deceased.
This crash comes amid strained ties between Kenya and Somalia.
In April, Kenya accused Somali troops of an “unwarranted attack” at its border near Mandera, a northern outpost town, describing the incident as a provocation.
Somalia has meanwhile long accused its bigger neighbour of meddling in its internal affairs, something Kenya has denied.
There is however a suspicion that the Al-Shabaab militant group which is active in southern Somalia could be responsible for the crash.
