Senegal is investigating a runway incident at Dakar’s Blaise Diagne International Airport that left 11 people injured, authorities said Friday.
The chartered Air Senegal Boeing 737-300, bound for Bamako, Mali, veered off the runway during takeoff on Thursday.
All injured are reported to be in improving condition and receiving psychological support.
Initial reports suggested four were in serious condition. The cause of the incident remains unclear.
Senegal’s transport ministry initiated a technical inquiry “to determine the causes and take necessary measures to prevent future occurrences.”
Neither Air Senegal nor the investigation bureau responded to inquiries.
The incident comes amidst ongoing safety concerns surrounding Boeing.
Two fatal crashes involving the 737 MAX model within five months led to a global grounding of the aircraft. Additionally, an Alaska-bound Boeing encountered issues in January, further raising safety questions for the manufacturer.
The fire that broke out on the Senegalese Boeing 737-300 caused a temporary closure of Dakar airport.
Air Senegal, a state-owned carrier launched in 2018, already faced criticism regarding service quality. This incident is likely to further scrutinize the airline’s operations.
