An Indian plane en route to Moscow has crashed in the Wakhan region of Badakhshan on Saturday, said Afghanistan media reports citing sources. The head of information and culture of the Taliban in Badakhshan confirmed the incident, stating that the passenger plane crashed in Topkhaneh Mountain, covering districts Karan, Manjan and Zibak in the province.
He said that a team has been sent to the area to investigate the incident. As of now, official sources in Afghanistan have not provided information regarding casualties or the cause of the crash. The situation is currently under investigation. However, the DGCA swiftly shared a statement quashing reports of an Indian plane being involved in the crash.
DGCA Issues Clarification
Taking swift cognisance of the incident and after investigating the issue, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) immediately came up with a statement dismissing claims of the plane involved in the crash being an Indian one. "DGCA official confirms this is not an Indian plane. A plane that crashed in the mountains of Topkhana alongside the districts of Kuran-Munjan and Zibak of Badakhshan province, was Moroccan registered DF 10 aircraft," said a senior Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) official in a statement to ANI.
"The unfortunate plane crash that has just occurred in Afghanistan is neither an Indian Scheduled Aircraft nor a Non Scheduled (NSOP)/Charter aircraft. It is a Moroccan registered small aircraft. More details are awaited," said the Ministry of Civil Aviation in another clarification over the incident.
Another Plane Crash Reported Recently In Chile
A firefighter plane, engaged in battling a blaze near Panguilemo Airport (TLX) in central Chile, crashed, resulting in the death of 58-year-old Spanish pilot Fernando Solans Robles. The incident occurred last week, and the Ministry of Agriculture in Chile officially confirmed the pilot's demise.
Fernando Solans Robles, working for the National Forestry Corporation (CONAF), was on a mission with a colleague in an Ayres Turbo Trush aircraft conducting fire control operations on January 15, 2024, when the plane lost control at 4:30 PM local time.
Injuries & Investigation
Reports indicate that the crash caused injuries to four individuals in a car traveling on the nearby highway. CONAF is actively collaborating with authorities to investigate the accident and determine its root cause.
Fernando Solans Robles, hailing from Valencia, Spain, was an experienced pilot and held a prominent position as the country's top pilot. He had a wealth of experience working with the company and was known for his proficiency. Christian Little, CONAF's Executive Director, expressed deep sorrow over the loss, emphasizing the pilot's extensive experience and expertise.
The ill-fated plane was operated by Air Andes SPA, an airline providing services to CONAF. The company, which operates seven aircraft in Chile, is cooperating with authorities in the ongoing investigation into the tragic plane crash.
