Created Thursday, May 20th 2021 16:20Z, last updated Wednesday, May 26th 2021 20:24Z
A Fly Air Africa Aviation (F.A.A.) Antonov AN-26 freighter, registration 3X-APL performing flight from Juba to Paloch (South Sudan), was enroute near Bor (South Sudan) when the left hand propeller detached from the aircraft at around 12:30Z and fell to the ground about 200 meters from the highway connecting Bor and Juba where workers observed the aircraft and the object fall down. The aircraft returned to Juba and landed safely.
Juba Airport reported an Antonov cargo aircraft, that had departed from Juba to Paloch, returned to Juba with just one propeller.
In response to the occurrence South Sudan's Civil Aviation Authority banned all private company operations of Antonov AN-26 in South Sudan's Airspace with the exception of the AN-26, tail number UR-UZI (white engine cowlings), being operated for UNMISS. UR-UZI had been inbound to Juba at the time of occurrence but was not near Bor and was the only AN-26 (AN-24) visible in South Sudan Airspace via their transponder throughout the day. The CAA also stated that "all operating managers of the said AN26 are to implement this order without fail".
The occurrence aircraft was not visible via their transponder. Neither of the photos around so far are able to identify the airframe involved.
On May 26th 2021 "KenyanAviator" reported the tail number of the aircraft was 3X-APL, however, he has no information about operator, serial number or any other data of the aircraft and assumes, it is a fake registration.
No database knows the tailnumber.
On May 26th 2021 a reader pointed us to a site which was operated by F.A.A. until recently. The site was opened on March 30th 2021 and showed the aircraft in question with the tail number 3X-APL (see below), however, without identifying the airframe (e.g. by serial number or its previous history). In the meantime the company shows "permanently closed".
The propeller on the ground:
The aircraft back at Juba:
