AMISOM Plane Fire--Update

UNCLAS NAIROBI 001198 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPT FOR AF/E AND A/F FRAZER E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: EAIR PTER ASEC MOPS SO ET UG SUBJECT: AMISOM Plane Fire--Update REF: Nairobi 1134 ¶1. Per reftel, an IL-76 cargo plane ferrying equipment for the Ugandan army's AMISOM mission caught fire while landing in Mogadishu on Friday, March 9. Numerous press reports indicate--alternately--that the IL-76 was hit by a "missile" or rocket propelled grenade (RPG) or that it experienced mechanical/structural difficulties during the landing procedure. Somali insurgents with ties to al- Qaida claim that they attacked and hit the plane. ¶2. The plane's contractor reportedly stated that the IL- 76 was indeed hit by an RPG. ¶3. On the other hand, AMISOM and the Somali Transitional Federal Government stated that the problem was probably mechanical/structural but are continuing to investigate. ¶4. Pending further evidence one way or the other, the question of what actually occurred during the aircraft's landing maneuvers remains open. ¶5. Embassy Kampala has cleared this message. Ranneberger