Malian military aircraft makes emergency landing in Timbuktu

A Malian Air Force Beechcraft 1900C transport aircraft performed an emergency landing near the Timbuktu airport on Monday afternoon, August 17, 2026, following an engine failure.

The aircraft was conducting a routine liaison mission when one of its two engines malfunctioned shortly after takeoff. The flight crew successfully landed the plane on clear terrain approximately two kilometers from the runway. All 19 occupants—comprising three crew members and 16 passengers, including three children—emerged from the aircraft without injury. No civilian casualties were reported.

The General Staff of the Armed Forces (EMGA) deployed security and rescue teams to secure the site and inspect the wreckage. An investigation has been launched to determine the exact cause of the mechanical failure. Authorities stated that the incident does not affect the operational capacity or the determination of the Malian Armed Forces to carry out their missions in the region.