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47 fatalities

Aircraft Crash in Linoghin After Diversion to Niamey (TZ-ABE)

Linoghin, Burkina FasoFlight

On August 11, 1974, an Ilyushin II-18 (registration TZ-ABE) operated by Air Mali was involved in an aviation accident near Linoghin, Burkina Faso in flight. 47 people were killed. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The accident was the consequence of fuel exhaustion caused by probable navigational errors on the part of the crew, who lost orientation in poor weather conditions. This summary draws on records from the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A); 3 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

Sourcesthe Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A)Source recordUpdated 2026-09-03Data APIEditorial standards

An airplane on a scheduled flight from Bamako to Saudi Arabia crashed in an open field near Ouagadougou after a navigational error and fuel exhaustion. 47 occupants were killed and 13 were injured.

Incident Overview and Diversion Instructions The aircraft was operating a monthly scheduled flight from Bamako to Saudi Arabia. While en route from Bamako to Kano, air traffic control informed the crew of deteriorating weather conditions and instructed the pilots to divert to Niamey. ## Loss of Orientation and Emergency Landing In marginal weather, the crew apparently lost orientation and, following a probable navigational error, flew westward. The crew realized they were over the region of Ouagadougou, approximately 400 km southwest of Niamey. With fuel running short, the crew attempted an emergency landing. The aircraft crashed in an open field in Linoghin, about 40 km east of Ouagadougou. ## Casualties Two crew members and 11 passengers were injured, while 47 other occupants were killed.

Probable cause

The accident was the consequence of fuel exhaustion caused by probable navigational errors on the part of the crew, who lost orientation in poor weather conditions.
Fuel exhaustion & starvation

Related events

Same operator

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 11 Aug 1974 Ilyushin II-18 accident near Linoghin, Burkina Faso?

An airplane on a scheduled flight from Bamako to Saudi Arabia crashed in an open field near Ouagadougou after a navigational error and fuel exhaustion. 47 occupants were killed and 13 were injured.

Were there any fatalities in the 11 Aug 1974 Ilyushin II-18 accident?

The accident was fatal, resulting in 47 fatalities.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 11 Aug 1974 involved an Ilyushin II-18, registration TZ-ABE, operated by Air Mali, at Linoghin, Burkina Faso.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

The accident was the consequence of fuel exhaustion caused by probable navigational errors on the part of the crew, who lost orientation in poor weather conditions.

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