Ethiopia: Fears of Tigray Forces hitting aircraft flying from Addis Ababa airport

Ethiopia: Air crafts taking off from Bole airport in Addis Ababa are flying over the city to reach a high altitude before leaving Addis Ababa’s air space. According to an expert, who monitors aviation-related developments, air crafts follow this practice at those airports close to which armed conflict is underway as there are fears that a low flying aircraft can easily be hit by enemy’s short-range anti-aircraft weaponry.

Tigray forces yesterday shared a video showing an Ethiopian gunship helicopter shot down by a MANPAD used by Tigray fighters. Earlier in June 2021, Tigray forces brought down an Ethiopian C-130 aircraft close to Mekelle, Tigray capital. The C-130 was also shot down by TDF’s MANPAD.

While Tigray forces and Oromo Liberation Army fighters are far away from Addis Ababa, the civil aviation authorities are following this practice to defend themselves from the potential attack on aircraft from Addis Ababa’s surroundings. MANPAD can easily be transported and used by a few fighters.