This archive report was first published on 5 May 2020.
On May 5, 2020, a light aircraft carrying aid supplies for the fight against Covid-19 was shot down in Somalia's Bardale area, killing all six on board.
The plane, an Embraer 5Y-AXO belonging to African Express, was on a humanitarian mission, and its downing has raised concerns about the safety of such operations in the region.
According to the Somali Ministry of Transport and Civil Aviation, the incident occurred around 3:30 pm local time, and the circumstances surrounding it are unclear.
Kenya has demanded swift investigations into the incident, warning that it could harm humanitarian aid deliveries in Somalia.
"The incident occurred under unclear circumstances. The aircraft had been and was supporting humanitarian operations during this Covid-19 pandemic period," the Ministry said in a statement.
Kenya has urged Somali authorities to take immediate action to investigate the incident and prevent similar occurrences in the future.
Local security officials have attributed the downing of the plane to a rocket-propelled grenade, and Al Qaeda-linked insurgency group Al Shabaab has been linked to the area where the plane came down.
