A small plane crash in eastern Burkina Faso on Wednesday resulted in the deaths of five people and injuries to two others.
The transport ministry confirmed the incident, which involved a Lead’ai aircraft that went down around 12:45 GMT.
“This is a developing situation, but according to initial reports, we have tragically lost five lives,” said transport minister Roland Somda.
“Two other individuals were injured in the crash.”
The plane, a PA32, was carrying a total of seven people, including crew members.
It departed from Diapaga airfield for a domestic flight to Fada N’Gourma in the eastern part of the country when the accident occurred.
“Authorities have launched a full investigation to determine the cause of the crash,” Somda continued. “A crisis unit has also been established to support those affected by this tragedy.”
The incident highlights the growing importance of intercity air travel in Burkina Faso.
Due to insurgency activity that has restricted access to certain regions, domestic flights have become a crucial and often the safest form of transportation between these areas.
