Fort Bragg soldiers help rescue injured passengers of African plane crash

Rachael Riley, The Fayetteville Observer
·2 min read
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Somalia Danab brigade commandos climb a fence to get to a Jubba Airlines aircraft that crash-landed July 18, 2022, at Mogadishu International Airport, Mogadishu, Somalia. Three 2nd Security Force Assistance Brigade soldiers from Fort Bragg helped first responders care for 16 injured passengers.
Somalia Danab brigade commandos climb a fence to get to a Jubba Airlines aircraft that crash-landed July 18, 2022, at Mogadishu International Airport, Mogadishu, Somalia. Three 2nd Security Force Assistance Brigade soldiers from Fort Bragg helped first responders care for 16 injured passengers.

SOMALIA —  A medical training exercise shifted into real-world application Monday for Fort Bragg soldiers as a passenger airplane crashed in front of them in Mogadishu, Somalia, according to an Army news release.

The soldiers are deployed to Somalia under the U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa to train, advise and assist African partner militaries.

They are part of the Maneuver Adviser Team 2231, which is working with the Somali National army’s Danab Brigade to support the Danab Brigade’s mission to conduct offensive operations against violent extremist organizations

According to the news release, the soldiers were medically training a platoon of Somalia’s Danab commandos when a Jubba Airlines airplane with about 30 passengers crashed at about 10:30 a.m. Monday at the nearby Mogadishu International Airport.

The commandos and Fort Bragg soldiers rushed into action climbing a razor-wire fence to reach the plane, which skidded to a halt upside down just meters from their training location, according to the news release.

As the Danab commandos rushed toward the aircraft to pull injured passengers, Fort Bragg soldiers Sgt. 1st Class Caleb Vanvoorhis, Staff Sgt. JoAnna Baxter and Staff Sgt. Taylor Palmer established a triage area and helped local emergency responders evacuate 16 injured passengers to nearby medical facilities.

Three Fort Bragg soldiers with the 2nd Security Force Assistance Brigade help first responders and Somalia Danab brigade commandos care for injured passengers, after a Jubba Airlines aircraft crash-landed Monday, July 18, 2022, at Mogadishu International Airport in Mogadishu, Somalia.
Three Fort Bragg soldiers with the 2nd Security Force Assistance Brigade help first responders and Somalia Danab brigade commandos care for injured passengers, after a Jubba Airlines aircraft crash-landed Monday, July 18, 2022, at Mogadishu International Airport in Mogadishu, Somalia.

Leaders of the Fort Bragg brigade said they are proud of the reactions of the three soldiers and the Danab commandos.

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“Their combined actions demonstrated the agility, quick thinking and decisive action that is essential to the advisor mission,” Lt. Col. Sean Nolan, commander of the 2nd Battalion, 2nd Security Force Assistance Brigade, said in the release.

Col. Michael Sullivan, commander of the 2nd Security Force Assistance Brigade, keyed in on the commando’s reaction to the crisis.

“Our soldiers supported their response, which was highly professional and demonstrates the value of our commitment to long-term security cooperation efforts in the region,” Sullivan said.

Somali first responders extinguish a fire on a Jubba Airlines aircraft Monday, July 18, 2022, at Mogadishu International Airport, Mogadishu, Somalia. Three 2nd Security Force Assistance Brigade soldiers from Fort Bragg helped first responders care for 16 injured passengers.
Somali first responders extinguish a fire on a Jubba Airlines aircraft Monday, July 18, 2022, at Mogadishu International Airport, Mogadishu, Somalia. Three 2nd Security Force Assistance Brigade soldiers from Fort Bragg helped first responders care for 16 injured passengers.

Staff writer Rachael Riley can be reached at rriley@fayobserver.com or 910-486-3528.

This article originally appeared on The Fayetteville Observer: Fort Bragg soldiers help rescue injured passengers in Africa