TheCable

A United Nations plane (pictured) skidded off the runway while touching down at the Gao Airport, Mali, on Monday, leaving 11 people injured. 

United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilisation Mission in Mali (MINUSMA) disclosed in a statement that the 11 people on board comprised seven crew members and four passengers.

The UN aircraft had attempted to make an emergency landing before it went off the runway.

Pictures of the white aircraft in a puddle of mud surfaced on social media on Monday.

The UN said the cause of the crash remains unclear.

“A MINUSMA plane from Bamako with eleven people (four passengers, all United Nations personnel and seven crew members) on board, made a hard landing at Gao airport,” the statement read.

“An investigation will be ordered as soon as possible to determine the cause of this incident.”

There is currently an uprising against President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita of Mali, who has spent two out of the five-year second term in office.

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) had appointed ex-President Goodluck Jonathan to lead its mediation team to help resolve the political tension in Mali.

President Muhammadu Buhari had also visited the West African country after his predecessor briefed him on his activities as special envoy to that country.

Photo credit: Abdoulaye Haidara