In a bizarre and tragic accident, a Chadian Air Force Su-25 parked at the Adji Kossei airbase fired a missile that struck an empty fuel truck, zoomed by a French C-130 Hercules transport plane and hit a house, killing 5 civilians.
A surveillance camera video of the incident has leaked online, showing the exact moment the missile was fired, apparently accidentally, as the fighter jet was being prepared for takeoff, according to local media.
The missile bursted through an empty fuel tanker truck and flew within meters of a wingtip of a C-130 Hercules transport aircraft, both allegedly to the French armed forces deployed in Chad as part of the anti-terrorist Operation Barkhane.
Tchad : Le bilan passe à 5 morts avec le décès d'une fillette et 2 blessés dans l'explosion d'un missile tiré d'un avion de l'armée de l'air tchadienne survenue ce jour 17 avril au quartier Farcha Garan Goso de la base militaire Sergent-Chef Adji Kosseï Barkhane sur place pic.twitter.com/nTsP2AuZTO
The stray projectile eventually hit a house in the vicinity of Adji Kossei (Fort Lamy) airbase in N’Djamena, the capital and largest city of Chad, killing at least five civilians, including three children.
Prosecutors launched a probe into the incident, while some reports alleged the destroyed house belonged to a top Chad army officer and was located next to the French-led operation headquarters.
