Plane reportedly downed by rocket
A plane carrying 11 people helping African peacekeepers burst into flames and crashed during a third day of fighting in Mogadishu, Somalia’s capital.
Local radio station Shabelle said the plane, a Russian-made Ilyushin used in the region to transport cargo and troops, was hit by a rocket as it took off.
“The plane, which was flying low-level, was hit by a rocket and then fell to the ground,” Shabelle reporter Maryan Hashi said.
A witness said he had encountered a survivor wandering dazed among the bodies and the wreckage of the plane.
Official sources said they assumed that most on board had died, but there was no immediate confirmation.
Start your day right
Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
