11 fatalities

Cargo Flight Shot Down Off Angolan Coast (ER-ACF)

Angola, AngolaFlight

On December 22, 1997, an Antonov AN-72 (registration ER-ACF) operated by Renan was involved in an aviation accident near Angola, Angola in flight. 11 people were killed. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: Shot down. This summary draws on records from the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A); 2 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

Sourcesthe Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A)Primary reportUpdated 2026-06-11Data APIEditorial standards

A cargo flight from Abidjan to Rundu was shot down by the Angolan Army after the crew refused to divert to Angola for control purposes. The aircraft crashed into the Atlantic Ocean, killing all 11 occupants.

Incident

A cargo flight departed Abidjan, Ivory Coast, en route to Rundu, Namibia. While the aircraft was cruising along the Angolan coastline, the flight crew contacted air traffic control. At that time, the crew was instructed to divert into Angola for control purposes. According to reports, the crew refused the diversion order and continued on their original flight path. Subsequently, the Angolan Army made the decision to shoot down the aircraft. The aircraft crashed into the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Angola. All 11 occupants aboard the aircraft lost their lives.

Official Findings

The official probable cause of the accident was that the aircraft was shot down. No further details were provided in the investigation report.