A Nigerian Air Force C-130 cargo plane made an emergency landing in Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso, on December 8, 2025, leading to the detention of 11 Nigerian personnel (two crew, nine passengers) by the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger for unauthorized airspace breach.
AES condemned the "unfriendly act," launching probes and placing air defenses on maximum alert to neutralize violators, per their December 2024 declaration. Security analyst Brant Philip clarified the flight was en route to Senegal, flying a standard West African corridor over southwest Burkina Faso without needing clearance as it stayed above 18,000 feet in international airspace.
Philip noted the C-130 declared "in-flight emergency" post-transponder deactivation a routine military tactic triggering the forced landing, dismissing espionage claims and urging diplomatic resolution given no prior incidents. AES vowed sovereignty protection amid ECOWAS tensions post their Sahel withdrawal. Nigeria silent; analysts eye routine logistics mission.