2009 Aerolift Ilyushin Il-76 crash

2009 aviation accident in Uganda October 2026 2009 Aerolift Ilyushin Il-76 crash GST Aero IL-76TD UN-76496 (6822762973).jpg 1.1 The aircraft involved in the accident, seen in 2001 while in service with a previous operator Accident yes 2009 03 09 Possible engine issue aggravated by pilot intoxication and fatigue Lake Victoria, off Entebbe International Airport, Uganda 00 03 55.3 S 32 26 49.5 E type:event_region:Uganda inline,title Ilyushin Il-76T Aerolift, operating for the African Union Mission to Somalia S9-SAB Entebbe International Airport, Kampala, Uganda Aden Adde International Airport, Mogadishu, Somalia 11 7 4 11 0 2 On 9 March 2009, an Ilyushin Il-76T, an Aerolift cargo flight for the African Union Mission to Somalia from Entebbe International Airport, Uganda, to Aden Adde International Airport, Somalia, crashed into Lake Victoria shortly after take off, killing all 11 people on board. The investigation into the accident could not identify with certainty the cause of the crash, but it was hypothesized and deemed highly likely that the aircraft suffered from engine problems shortly after take off, and that they were mismanaged by the crew due to various factors.https://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/321540 Accident Ilyushin Il-76T S9-SAB, Monday 9 March 2009 Aviation Safety Network 11 September 2026 https://avherald.com/h?article=41635921 Crash: Aerolift IL76 at Entebbe on Mar 9th 2009, impacted Lake Victoria after takeoff 9 March 2009 Hradecky 11 September 2026 The Aviation Herald Simon Background Aircraft The aircraft involved in the accident was an Ilyushin Il-76T registered in Sao Tome and Principe as S9-SAB. The aircraft was manufactured in 1977. Passengers and crew The aircraft was carrying a total of eleven people, seven passengers, two Ugandan, three Burundian, one South African and one Indian nationals, members of the African Union Mission to Somaliahttps://mg.co.za/news/south-africa/2009-03-09-south-african-killed-in-uganda-plane-crash/ South African killed in Uganda plane crash Mail&Guardian 9 March 2009 11 September 2026 https://ugandaradionetwork.net/story/update-ugandan-burundian-and-south-african-crewmembers-killed-in-sunday-night-plane-crash?districtId=731 UPDATE: Ugandan, Burundian and South African Crewmembers Killed in Sunday Night Plane Crash Uganda Radio Network 9 March 2009 Malaba 11 September 2026 Tom, and four crew members, two Russian nationals, who were the captain and first officer, and two Ukrainian nationals, the navigator and the flight engineer.https://www.reuters.com/article/world/cargo-plane-crashes-in-lake-victoria-idUSTRE5281GJ/ Cargo plane crashes in Lake Victoria 9 March 2009 11 September 2026 Reutershttps://www.voanews.com/a/a-13-2009-03-09-voa6-68824557/365082.html 11 Die in Lake Victoria Plane Crash Voice of America 2 November 2009 11 September 2026 Among the three Burundian soldiers on board there were a brigadier, a colonel and a general.https://www.france24.com/en/20090309-plane-crashes-lake-victoria-10-dead- Plane crashes in Lake Victoria, 10 dead France24 9 March 2009 11 September 2026 Accident The aircraft took off at 05:06 local time from Entebbe International Airport, Uganda, for a charter cargo flight to Aden Adde International Airport, Somalia, carrying 16 tonnes of supplies, tents and water purification equipment to Ugandan soldiers stationed in Somalia. Shortly after take off, as the aircraft was climbing, ground witnesses reported fire coming from two of its four engines. The plane then lost altitude and disappeared from radar at 05:14. The Il-76 crashed into one of the deepest regions of Lake Victoria, about 10 km mi 1 off the coast from the airport. All 11 people on board were killed.https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna29590656 7 reported dead in Uganda cargo plane crash NBC News 9 March 2009 11 September 2026 The wave generated by the impact capsized a boat with two fishermen on board; they were injured but survived. Recovery operation After the crash a multi-day recovery operation was launched. On 11 March the first two bodies were recovered,https://ugandaradionetwork.net/story/update-bodies-of-two-plane-crash-victims-recovered?districtId=0 UPDATE: Bodies of Two Plane Crash Victims Recovered Uganda Radio Network 11 March 2009 Malaba 11 September 2026 Tom but, due to the depth of the lake and difficulties encountered by local rescue teams, in the following days Ugandan authorities asked for help from the United States. Sonar technicians from the US Navy arrived in Uganda from Naval Air Station Sigonella, Italy. The American technicians used unmanned underwater vehicles to map the debris field present.https://www.stripes.com/news/2009-03-26/uganda-enlists-help-of-us-sailors-to-locate-plane-crash-wreckage-1989165.html Uganda enlists help of U.S. sailors to locate plane crash wreckage Stars and Stripes 26 March 2009 11 September 2026 On 25 March the joint recovery mission managed to raise the tail section of the plane from the bottom of Lake Victoria. The search for the aircraft's flight recorders continued, but they were never found.https://ugandaradionetwork.net/story/ugandan-and-u-s-divers-raise-tail-of-crashed-ilyushin-76-plane Ugandan and U.S. Divers Raise Tail of Crashed Ilyushin-76 Plane Uganda Radio Network 27 March 2009 11 September 2026 Investigation Ugandan authorities launched an investigation into the crash, which was finalised on 13 January 2010. The report stated that that investigators did not have sufficient evidence, a large part of the wreckage and both flight recorders were not recovered, and were unable to establish a cause. A highly plausible hypothesis was made. The aircraft had a loss of engine power during take off, confirmed by ground witnesses and supported by previous occurrences involving the same aircraft which occurred in December 2008 when the Il-76 lost engine power taking off from Entebbe International Airport. After that previous incident, the airplane remained in Uganda for two weeks, but local aviation authorities did not perform any repairs, there were no technicians trained on Soviet-made aircraft. The report also noted the pilots had very little rest the night before departure, after spending the evening drinking, and were probably under the influence of alcohol during the flight. There was no radio operator on board, as required in the Il-76 cockpit, the crew subsequently mishandled the engine problem, leading to the crash. The aircraft was also beyond its maximum amount of flight cycles without any inspection or repair.https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/news/national/drunk-pilot-crushed-plane-report-1483732 Drunk pilot crushed plane - report Monitor 22 December 2010 11 September 2026 https://www.independent.co.ug/lake-victoria-crash-plane-junk-probe-report/ Lake Victoria crash plane was junk- probe report The Independent 13 April 2010 Matsiko 11 September 2026 P. References Category:Aviation accidents and incidents involving the Ilyushin Il-76 Category:Aviation accidents and incidents in 2009 Category:Aviation accidents and incidents in Uganda Category:Aviation accidents and incidents caused by engine failure Category:Airliner accidents and incidents caused by engine failure Category:Airliner accidents and incidents caused by maintenance errors Category:March 2009 in Africa