https://www.havkom.se/

[Connor]

Swedish Accident Investigation Authority Department of Justice

 

[Connor]

pg.1​

Swedish Accident Investigation Authority Department of Justice

---

FINAL REPORT
Serious incident involving involving an unidentified aircraft in Democratic Republic of the Congo in December 2001


Chairperson Jonas Bäckstrand
Investigator-in-Charge Stefan Christensen

---

C:1/1/01

---

Swedish Accident Investigation Authority investigates accidents and incidents with regard to safety. The sole objective of the investigations is the prevention of similar occurrences in the future. It is not the purpose of this activity to apportion blame or liability.​

pg.2​

Contents
- Summary of Events

- Factual Information

- Crew and Passengers​

- Aircraft​

- Course of Events​

- Injuries to Persons​

- Damage to the Aircraft​

- Other Damage​

- Search and Rescue​

- Salvage​

- Weather​

- Aeromedical Investigation​

- Technical Investigation​

- General​

- Incident Site​

- Witness Statements and Reports​

- Technical Investigative Results​

- Command and Control​

- Recording and Warning Equipment​

- Analysis

- Crew and Passengers​

- Aircraft​

- Course of Events​

- Measures Taken
- Conclusion
- Recommendations

- Appendix

pg.3​

- Summary of Events
In approximately December 2001 an inquiry was initiated following the report of an unidentified aircraft having been shot down via various international media sources within the Democratic Republic of the Congo. This was during a period of armed conflict between the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Republic of the Congo. This aircraft was reported to be of Swedish origin. Following natural skepticism of the unsubstantiated reports and the hostile territory in-which this aircraft had allegedly been downed no publicly acknowledge search-and-rescue operation ensued leaving the aircraft type, origin, damage and reason for the incident being largely unknown to the general public.

There are no known civilian flights operating in this area of Swedish registration or origin. The Department of Defence acknowledges an active military operation, namely REDACTED, which had an active campaign within Central Africa which involved the use of high-altitude aircraft. Precise flight plans and details of operations remain classified and whilst reviewed in some extent by investigative staff cannot be publicised within this report.

pg.4​

- Factual Information

- Crew and Passengers​

Unknown.​

​

- Aircraft​

Reportedly a high-altitude aircraft of Swedish registration and/or origin.​

​

- Course of Events​

In approximately December 2001 a media report from the Bankok Post publicly announced that an allegedly Swedish aircraft had been shot down by Congolese anti-aircraft systems whilst it gathered intelligence. This report allegedly came from a source within the Thai National Intelligence Agency. A corroborating report was later made by the Congo Ledger whereby the Congolese Defense and Countermeasures Agency acknowledged that an aircraft flying at an altitude of 70,000 feet above sea level had been downed. No further publicly accessible reports were made.​

​

An investigation with the Swedish Accident Investigation Authority ensued and correspondence was sent to the Democratic Republic of Congo to expedite the possibility of an investigation into the events. The relevant authorities responded in the negative, refusing to allow civilian investigators into the country to establish facts opting to operate their own investigation, from which there have been no formal reports.​

​

- Injuries to Persons​

Unknown.​

​

- Damage to the Aircraft​

Presumed total destruction.​

​

- Other Damage​

Unknown.​

​

- Search and Rescue​

No known search-and-rescue operation.​

​

- Salvage​

No wreckage has been publicly acknowledged or accessible by investigators.​

​

- Weather​

Historic meteorological information shows the region to have been approximately 32°C (celcius), with passing clouds. Wind blowing at 8mph from 240° west-southwest to north-northeast. 62% humidity. Based on this report there is nothing to suggest weather is a factor in this incident.​

​

- Aeromedical Investigation​

Any aeromedical investigation has been impossible given the inaccessible incident location and no identified bodies of any persons.​

pg.5​

- Technical Investigation

- General​

The technical investigators’ task has been to respond to, among other things, the following comprehensive questions:​

​

Was the aircraft involved actually of Swedish registration and/or origin?​

Was this aircraft of civilian or military operational function?​

What type of aircraft was involved in this incident and who occupied its commander position?​

What were the events leading up to this aircraft being shot down?​

Was there any technical or human-factors involved in this aircraft being shot down?​

Was there any identified risk to aircraft operating in this region prior to this incident?​

Can experiences from the incident be utilised in order to increase the safety of flight?​

​

The investigation has been time consuming and difficult, mainly due to the inability for investigators to visit the crash site to conduct a thorough investigation. No information has been shared by foreign competent authorities. There has been no sharing of equipment on board for the recording of flight data or communication, making witness testimony of essential significance.​

​

- Incident Site​

Unknown. Competent authorities within the Democratic Republic of the Congo refused access to Swedish civilian investigators.​

​

- Witness Statements and Reports
No identified independent witnesses.

Technical Investigative Results
No technical analysis has been possible due the scarcity of factual information and tangible assets.​

- Technical Investigative Results

- Command and Control​

There are no publicised communications data relating to this aircrafts operation.​

​

- Recording and Warning Equipment​

With the lack of access to a the downed aircraft it has been impossible to identify a data recorder and subsequently it is not possible to identify any recording and warning equipment. No findings have been shared by foreign competent authorities.​

​

pg.6​

- Analysis

- Crew and Passangers
Throughout this investigation, despite attempts to establish facts through various avenues including physical inspection of the crash site, extensive analysis of witness testimony and the unsubstantiated media reports, there is nothing at this stage to establish the composition of the downed aircraft. No reports have suggested that the crew onboard this aircraft are Swedish. There are no reports which indicate that human-error is a factor in this incident however there is clear question over a key factor: how this aircraft had found itself within Congolese territorial airspace during a period of war and conflict. Without the provision of domestic radar data it is impossible for investigators to provide a determinate decision. At present the total loss of life is unknown and precisely who was in command of this aircraft, their service history and flight hours.

- Aircraft
Similarly due to investigative constraints it cannot be established what type this aircraft was, civilian or military, its manufacturer or model. It cannot be established if this aircraft is of Swedish registration or origin. It is understood to be a high-altitude aircraft which increases the possibility that this aircraft be of military type, given confirmation from the Department of Defence had an active military operation which included the use of aircraft within Central Africa. This operation remains classified and investigators have been unable to establish whether this operation and the downed aircraft are linked or whether Central Africa incorporated the active war zone where this incident was reported.

- Course of Events
Given the reports are vague in nature, provided by unofficial sources (primarily the public media) and investigative constraints surrounding access to actual evidential sources, it is unethical for this report to establish a factual course of events. It is presumed that an aircraft of unconfirmed origin or registration has been shot down by anti-aircraft weaponry within the territorial borders of the Democratic Republic of the Congo during a period of war and conflict. At present there are no reports from the civilian or military sector within Sweden to report a missing aircraft or any other active aviation accident or incident.​

- Measures Taken
Investigators have made contact with the Democratic Republic of the Congo in an attempt to establish facts in this matter, without success, having been declined access to the state for civilian investigators to visit the crash site. In addition, attempts to verify the original source of information identifying this downed aircraft as Swedish have been made with investigators contacting the National Intelligence Agency of the Republic of Thailand. Furthermore a review of active civil and military aviation incidents and reports show no active investigation which may validate claims without success. Contact with the Department of Defence confirms an active military operation in this region however security classification constraints prevent investigators establishing whether this is linked. It has been concluded that there are no other clear avenues of investigation.

- Conclusion
At this stage, given the extensive investigative limitations in this incident, it is not in the public interest to continue an investigation of any kind. It is of the opinion of the investigators that this aircraft is unlikely to have been of Swedish registration or origin and if it were, it be of military origin and subject to independent reporting regulations under domestic law. It has been explored that this may be false flag attack given the incident occurred within an active war zone. At present, there is are no further lines of enquiry.

- Recommendations
[1] Swedish Armed Forces to establish any loss as a result of operations within Central Africa and review the possibility of reporting this to the Swedish Accident Investigation Authority for investigation. (C:1/1/01:R1)

[2] Post-incident regional traffic restrictions within the territorial airspace of both the Democratic Republic of Congo and the Republic of Congo owing to an active restraint on foreign investigative authorities, lack of domestic incident reporting and armed conflict posing a credible risk to any aircraft in the region. (C:1/1/01:R2)

pg.7​

- Appendix
[1] Media publication by 'Bankok Post'

Bangkok Post A "allegedly" Swedish aircraft was shot down by the Congolese anti-air system as it attempted to acquire intelligence, according to a top-secret source from the National Intelligence Agency. @BangkokPost

[2] Media publication by 'Congo Ledger'

Congo Ledger In a report from the Congolese Defense and Countermeasures Agency, the stricken aircraft was flying at an altitude of 70,000 feet above sea level when it was decided to down it. The highest altitude achieved by civilian operators is 60,000 feet by the super-sonic Concord airliner. It has been concluded that a foreign state-run surveillance aircraft was flying over an active warzone. @CongoLedger

[3] Declassified correspondence between 'SAIA' and Democratic Republic of Congo
Document (1)

[4] Declassified correspondence between 'SAIA' and Republic of Thailand
Document (2)