JidbaaleThe Somali Civil Aviation Authority (SCAA) has refuted social media claims that a newly acquired government aircraft crashed while attempting to land in prohibited zones.
In a statement published on Tuesday, the SCAA denied the charges as baseless, alleging that they are part of a misinformation effort coordinated by “enemies of Somalia.” The governing body responsible for regulating aviation operations nationwide said that all government-owned helicopters and aircraft acquired in the last two years are functioning in complete adherence to safety standards.
The Somali Civil Aviation Authority asserts that recent allegations of government-owned aircraft crashing or executing emergency landings in distant regions are entirely false, according to the statement. The SCAA further encouraged the public to authenticate any aviation-related information via approved channels.
These rumors aim to obfuscate and deceive the public. We advise everyone to depend on trusted sources for information pertaining to government activities,” the spokeswoman continued.
The charges circulating online are entirely unfounded. An SCAA representative said, “All of our aircraft are operating effectively and continue to fulfill their designated national functions.” The statement emphasized that all aircraft assets undergo routine inspections and comply with rigorous safety rules.
The refusal comes as Somalia has been upgrading its military capabilities with the acquisition of four Bell 412EPX helicopters from Italy. The helicopters, estimated at $16 million, mark one of the most important military transfers to Somalia since breaking the weapons embargo, which had previously hindered Somalia’s ability to buy modern military equipment.
The SCAA maintained that all helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft acquired by the government are “safe and executing their national tasks.
