MINSK, March 12 (RIA Novosti) - A Belarusian transport plane has been hit by a grenade launcher as it was landing in the capital of Somalia, Mogadishu, the Belarusian Transportation and Communications Ministry said Monday.
The Transaviaexport air company Il-76 airliner was carrying a humanitarian cargo as part of an African Union peacekeeping mission under the auspices of the United Nations. It was hit by a grenade or missile fired from a small boat while at an altitude of 150 meters.
"The crew managed to land the plane," the ministry said. "All crewmembers are alive, according to the ministry's information. A grenade or a missile caused considerable damage to the plane's fuselage."
A special Belarusian commission, consisting of representatives from various aviation departments as well as insurance companies, are investigating the incident.
