11 fatalities

2009-03-09: Ilyushin II-76 (S9-SAB) — Aerolift — Entebbe, Uganda

Entebbe, UgandaTakeoff (climb)

On March 9, 2009, an Ilyushin II-76 (registration S9-SAB) operated by Aerolift was involved in an aviation accident near Entebbe, Uganda during takeoff. 11 people were killed. 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 1781196834Data APIEditorial standards

A chartered aircraft crashed into Lake Victoria shortly after takeoff from Entebbe Airport, killing all 11 occupants, including four army officers. The flight was on a mission for the African Union in Somalia.

Accident Overview

Shortly after takeoff from Entebbe Airport's runway 17, while climbing at night, the aircraft entered an uncontrolled descent and crashed into Lake Victoria, approximately 10 kilometers south of the airport. The impact caused the aircraft to disintegrate, and all 11 occupants were killed. Among the deceased were three army officers from Burundi and one army officer from Uganda. The flight was destined for Mogadishu, Somalia, in support of the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM).

Aircraft and Mission Details

The aircraft was chartered by Dynacorp, a U.S.-based company, to transport tents and water purification equipment. The mission was part of AMISOM, an African Union peacekeeping operation. No additional details about the aircraft type, registration, or operator were provided in the investigation source.

Investigation

The official investigation source did not specify a probable cause for the accident. The circumstances leading to the uncontrolled descent remain undetermined based on the available information.