'Russian made' transport plane careens off runway in Africa and explodes in giant fireball

Moment 'Russian made' transport plane careens off runway in Africa and explodes in giant fireball amid suspicions jet was linked to Wagner🥰

This is the dramatic moment a giant 'Russian made' transport plane careened off a runway in Africa and exploded into a fireball amid suspicions the jet was linked to the Wagner army.

The Il-76 plane burst into flames in Mali - where Wagner's troops are stationed - just weeks after the private mercenary group's leader Yevgeny Prigozhin was killed in an exploding business jet near Moscow.

The Ilyushin was captured on film landing in Gao but failed to come to a stop and quickly transformed into a raging inferno. It was reported that the plane's Russian pilot had died.

Some reports had linked the flight to the controversial Wagner mercenary army who operate in Mali and while this has been denied, it was left open the possibility that the paramilitary group was associated with the plane.

It has not yet been established how many casualties there were but there are fears up to 140 passengers may have been on board.

The footage seemingly dispels reports that the aircraft was shot out of the sky by a man-portable air defence system.

It's understood that the plane landed too far down the 2,500 metre runway. It failed to brake in less than 500 metres and overshot the runway, exploding in a huge inferno.

Sources close to Wagner have denied the Russian mercenary group was linked to the flight, even though its forces are active in the African country. It did not rule out the possibility that Wagner was linked to the plane.

The aircraft was used by the Malian military, according to Grey Zone Telegram channel, which is close to Wagner.

'This plane, or rather the flight, did not transport any personnel of the Wagner Group,' said the channel.

It said earlier: 'There were no fighters or pilots of the Wagner Group on board.'