A military helicopter owned and operated by the Ethiopian air force crashed at Bahir Dar Airport, Northern Ethiopia on Saturday. Passenger flights remained suspended for several hours.
It remains unclear whether the aircraft was carrying military commanders or government officials. The crash occurred around noon at Belay Zeleke International Airport in Bahir Dar, the administrative seat of the Amhara Regional government. Many local outlets confirmed this incident. According to some local news outlets, airport employees confirmed that the crash took place at Bahir Dar Airport, although no further details have been provided.
According to local reports, Defense Chief Field Marshal Berhanu Jula traveled to Bahir Dar on Friday for a meeting with defense officials stationed in the region. State-owned media shared a photo of him receiving a traditional honor vestment, known locally as Kaba.
As of now, the cause of the crash and the full list of victims may not have been fully confirmed, but it has sparked concerns about air safety and the operations of the airline. The Ethiopian government, airline officials, and international agencies have been involved in looking into the incident.
Gojam Fano’s deputy commander Asres Mare Damte claims on Sunday evening that the military helicopter had been hit by Fano fighters. According to Mare Damte, Gojjam Fano, successfully targeted and downed a helicopter, an act that would suggest a sophisticated level of military capability and strategic planning. The claim by Fano fighters is still unverified. Since last year, Fano fighters have been fighting the Ethiopian security forces. The armed conflict has destabilized the Amhara region.
Ethiopian military in a statement denied that any helicopter crashed at Bahir Dar airport. It said that flight operations at Bahir Dar airport were suspended at the airport because of air drills conducted by the West Air Division of the Ethiopian Airforce.
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