2020 United States Air Force E-11A crash


On 27 January 2020, a United States Air Force Bombardier Global Express E-11A aircraft crashed in Afghanistan's Dih Yak District, Ghazni Province. Two people on board were killed, the whole crew according to US military sources. The Taliban claimed to have shot the aircraft down.

Accident

The aircraft crashed at 13:10 in the Dih Yak District. Ghazni Province, Afghanistan. The crash site is south west of Kabul, and near the village of Sado Khelo. The Voice of America stated that all five people on board were killed. The DoD only confirmed two fatalities recovered at the crash site. Two Afghan locals died on the ground by impact of the crash.
It was originally reported to be an aircraft of Ariana Afghan Airlines, but the airline later ruled out this possibility, saying all its flights had been accounted for. A spokesman for the United States military confirmed the identity of the aircraft involved in the accident, which occurred in an area controlled by the Taliban. A Taliban spokesman said to Al-Arabiyah, that Taliban militias shot down the aircraft killing everyone on board, including high-ranking officials. However, these reports remain unconfirmed.
On 29 January, Pentagon sources identified the airmen killed in the crash as Lieutenant Colonel Paul K. Voss and Captain Ryan S. Phaneuf.

Aircraft

The incident aircraft was a Bombardier Global Express E-11A of the United States Air Force. Video of the crash scene shows that the aircraft serial number was , msn . It had first flown in 2009. The aircraft was operated by the 430th Expeditionary Electronic Combat Squadron in the Battlefield Airborne Communications Node role. The aircraft involved in the crash was one of only four in the United States Air Force.

Investigation

American military authorities opened an investigation into the incident. The aircraft's flight data recorder was recovered.