Ethiopian Air Force L-39 Crash

An Ethiopian Air Force L-39C Albatros came down in the East Shewa Zone of Oromia Region on the morning of 11 August 2026. The Aviation Safety Network and several open-source accounts report that the jet crashed after coming under fire from Oromo Liberation Army insurgents, although the Ethiopian government has not confirmed a shoot-down and the cause remains unverified. Both crew members ejected and were subsequently recovered by Ethiopian commandos; there were no fatalities. The airframe was destroyed. The L-39C serves the Ethiopian Air Force as an advanced trainer and light attack platform and has been used in counter-insurgency strikes across Oromia and Amhara.