Several people are believed to have died in a plane crash in Mali, including members of the Russian mercenary group Wagner.
The plane that crashed during landing belonged to the Malian army, a military representative told the AFP news agency on Sunday. The plane “with allies” that crashed on Saturday was in operation in Gao. People close to the rescuers said that mainly Russian Wagner soldiers were seen when the survivors arrived. Initially there was no official information about damage and victims. However, people close to the airport and diplomatic circles said these could be high.
Investigators returned to the crash site on Sunday, according to a source at Gao airport. The injured had already been transported to an unknown destination by another plane on Saturday night. Nothing was initially known about the cause of the accident. A representative of the Bundeswehr’s operational command in Mali, as part of the UN’s Minusma mission, said the Russian-made IL-76 aircraft may have overshot the runway on Saturday. An airport official said the crashed plane was “overloaded.”
Wagner’s boss also died in a plane crash
Following the violent death of former Wagner leader Yevgeny Prigozhin, who reportedly died in a plane crash along with Wagner founder Dmitri Utkin, the Russian government confirmed the identities of those killed. The identities of all ten people who died in a plane crash in the Tver region have been clarified and correspond to the list of passengers, according to the Russian news agency RIA Novosti, citing the Investigative Committee.
“As part of the investigation into the plane crash in the Tver region, molecular genetic studies were completed. Based on the results, the identities of all ten dead were established,” the publication said. According to Russia, it is now clear that Wagner boss Prigozhin is dead. On June 23, Wagner chief Yevgeny Prigozhin launched his brief revolt against Moscow’s military leadership. About two months later, his private jet crashed near Moscow. The plane was probably shot down or blown up.
Browsing account Rfi, time of 20 minutes 09/24/2023, 8:45 pm | Act: September 24, 2023, 8:45 pm