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On 9 January 2019 a Dassault Mirage 2000D of the French Air Force disappeared from radar around noon local time, as it was flying over the Jura mountains close to the border between France and Switzerland. The prefecture launched a search and rescue operation, but heavy snow restricted visibility. The crash appears to be confirmedRead more

An Ethiopian Airlines Boeing 777 freighter, performing a non scheduled flight from Ethiopia to Singapore, was intercepted as it entered the Indonesian airspace without an overflight permit. The aircraft was escorted by Indonesian F-16 fighter jets to Hang Nadim Airport (BTH) on Batam island, Indonesia. On 14 January 2019, the plane, registered ET-AVN, was initiallyRead more

Ukraine’s military says a two-seat Ukrainian fighter jet has crashed during a joint exercise with NATO air forces, killing both the pilot and co-pilot: “A Sukhoi-27 plane crashed at around 17h00 local time during a training flight,” the Armed Forces General Staff said in a statement on 16 October, adding that “the bodies of theRead more

A South African soldier has fallen to his death from a helicopter, the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) said on Tuesday. The fatal incident happened on Saturday 29 September 2018 during the Special Forces Celebrations in Phalaborwa. A statement from the SANDF read: “Sergeant Goodwill Kabelo Moagi (35) accidentally fell from an SA AirRead more

Khartoum International Airport (KRT), the main airport of the Sudanese capital, was temporarily closed on 3 October 2018, after two military planes of the Sudan Air Force (SAF) collided on the runway. No fatalities were reported, but there have been some reports of serious injuries. An airport official said the Soviet-era Antonov aircraft had landedRead more

Perhaps the biggest single problem that the organisers have with staging Africa Aerospace and Defence exhibitions is with the Department of Defence’s unfriendly and frankly obnoxious military personnel who are determined on destroying any credibility that this biannual exhibition may have. There are many individuals, including me who have tried their hardest to ensure thatRead more

Bad few days for South African Aviation Witnessed by Charlie Hugo During the 2018 Air Power Capability demonstration held at the Roodevaal bombing range, a SAAF Oryx helicopter was involved in a hard-landing incident.  The incident occurred during a troop-insertion exercise and the cause of the incident is still undetermined.  The helicopter impacted the groundRead more

The officer commanding the South African Air Force (SAAF) Lieutenant General Zakes Msimang is apparently on special leave after being suspended from duty. The three-star general was suspended while at least two allegations against him are being investigated. The first apparently relates to illegal usage of an official M vehicle (military, in this instance theRead more

AAD at a glance. The Africa Aerospace and Defence (AAD) is Africa’s only aerospace and defence expo that combines both a trade exhibition and an air show. A short version of our video summary of Africa Aerospace and Defence 2016. Produced by African Pilot Magazine.Read more