Footage has emerged of an Ilyushin Il-76 transport aircraft which was destroyed by fire after a runway excursion incident in Mali over the weekend.
The Mali Air Force Ilyushin Il-76 suffered the fatal accident after overrunning the runway following a landing at Gao International Airport (GAQ) in Mali on Saturday, September 23, 2023.
Runway excursion
The aircraft touched down late on RWY 06L, which is 2500 m long. Following the late touchdown, the crew persisted with the landing but failed to stop on the remaining runway length.
The heavy aircraft then travelled approximately 380 m past the end of the runway, before crossing a perimeter road and then proceeding down an embankment.
A fire then erupted, which consumed a large part of the aircraft. The number of occupants aboard the flight has not been disclosed, though it has been reported that a Russian pilot was amongst the fatalities.
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According to the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives, the aircraft eventually crashed in a ravine located about 500 meters past the runway end, before bursting into flames.
The report notes an undisclosed number casualties but also states that a few people were rescued. The exact number of victims and survivors is unclear.
The aircraft involved was an Ilyushin Il-76, registration TZ-98T, belonging to the Mali Air Force. It is believed that the airplane was previously owned by the Wagner Group and was handed to the Air Force about a week prior to the accident.
The Ilyushin Il-76
The Ilyushin Il-76 (NATO reporting name: Candid) is a multi-purpose, fixed-wing, four-engine turbofan strategic airlifter designed by the Soviet Union’s Ilyushin design bureau as a commercial freighter in 1967, to replace the Antonov An-12.
It was developed to deliver heavy machinery to remote, poorly served areas. Military versions of the Il-76 have been widely used in Europe, Asia and Africa, including use as an aerial refueling tanker or command center.
The Il-76 is a large aircraft, with a wingspan of 50 meters and a length of 47 meters. It has a maximum payload of 40,000 kilograms (88,000 pounds) and can carry up to 225 passengers.
The aircraft is powered by four Soloviev D-30 turbofan engines, which give it a top speed of 850 kilometers per hour (528 miles per hour).
The Il-76 has been used in a number of military conflicts, including the Afghanistan War, the Chechen Wars, and the Syrian Civil War.
It has also been used for humanitarian missions, such as the response to the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami and the 2010 Haiti earthquake.
The heavy transport aircraft has been in service for over 40 years. It is produced by the Russian company Aviastar-SP, which is a subsidiary of the United Aircraft Corporation. The Il-76 is currently operated by over 20 countries around the world.
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