On March 22, 2025, a Kenyan-registered de Havilland Canada DHC-5 Buffalo cargo aircraft, operated by Trident Aviation with tail number 5Y-RBA, tragically crashed near Ceel Xabaalbow, approximately 24 kilometers southwest of Mogadishu, Somalia. All five crew members on board, all Kenyan nationals, lost their lives in the accident.
The aircraft was en route from Dhobley Airport to Aden Adde International Airport in Mogadishu, returning after delivering supplies to African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM) forces. Shortly after takeoff, at approximately 5:43 PM local time, the plane experienced a technical failure and lost contact with air traffic control. Emergency teams from the National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA) later discovered the wreckage near the Jasiira settlement in Mogadishu.
The Somali Civil Aviation Authority (SCAA) has initiated an investigation to determine the cause of the crash. Preliminary reports indicate that the aircraft had encountered technical difficulties earlier in the day, which were reportedly resolved before the fatal flight.
This incident adds to a series of aviation accidents in Somalia involving Kenyan-registered aircraft. Notably, on May 4, 2020, an African Express Airways Embraer EMB 120 Brasilia, registration number 5Y-AXO, crashed on approach to Berdale, Somalia, killing all six individuals on board. The aircraft was on a humanitarian mission delivering medical supplies.
The recurrence of such incidents underscores the need for stringent safety protocols and thorough investigations to enhance the safety of humanitarian and supply flights operating in the region.