A plane may have crashed in Afghanistan, but nobody knows whose it is. Local officials say the aircraft belonged to the national carrier Ariana Afgan Airlines, but its CEO denied it. Meanwhile, local civil aviation authority is puzzled about whether the crash happened at all.  

On January 27, 2020, news emerged that an aircraft went down in the eastern province of Ghazni, to the south-west of the capital, Kabul.  It was revealed by Arif Noori, Ghazni governor’s office spokesperson, who defined the airliner as “a Boeing plane belonging to the Ariana Afghan Airline.” 

However, Mirwais Mirzakwal, CEO of the country’s national carrier, denied the aircraft belonged to his company. “There has been an airline crash but it does not belong to Ariana because the two flights managed by Ariana today from Herat to Kabul and Herat to Delhi are safe,” Mirzakwal told Reuters.

In a statement on social media, Ariana Afghan Airlines also highlighted that news of their aircraft crash are “not true” and all their flights were made safely on the day. 

At 14:33, local time, the Afghan Civil aviation authority published a statement saying no crash had been confirmed as of yet. 

“Today, news of the crash of an Ariana Airlines plane has been circulated on social media and has raised concern among the people of the country.

To date, no civilian casualties have been confirmed by the Tower Control and Air Traffic Regulatory Authority, and all Ariana Airlines flights have been accounted for by the Center.

All airline companies have also been assured of their operation. So far, according to KACC Kabul, no crossing flights have been reported and no casualties have been reported.

The aviation department is investigating an accident in the Ghazni province and will share information with the public and media as soon as it gets it.”

The district of Deh Yak, where the plane allegedly went down, is under control of the Taliban.