NAIROBI, May 5 (Xinhua) -- Kenyan government on Tuesday expressed its "deep shock and regret" over an incident involving a Kenyan private cargo plane that crashed in Somalia on Monday, killing all six people on board.

The ministry of foreign affairs said the Embraer 120 plane with tail registration 5Y- AXO and belonging to African Express crashed while landing in Bardale airport under unclear circumstances.

"The incident occurred under unclear circumstances. The aircraft had been and was supporting humanitarian operations during this COVID-19 pandemic period," it said in a statement issued in Nairobi.

The plane which had six people -- the pilot, co-pilot, flight engineer, a trainee pilot and two airline workers, was carrying aid supplies for use in the fight against the novel coronavirus.

The government called on the Somali government and international agencies to thoroughly and swiftly investigate the matter because it impacts humanitarian operations at a time of highest need.

"Kenyan and other humanitarian aircraft operating in the region are also urged to enhance extra precaution in light of the unclear circumstances surrounding the incident," the ministry said.

The ministry said it is working with other agencies and shall keenly monitor the investigation of this tragic incident and will collaborate with all to bring closure and resolution to the incident.

The African Airways is a Kenyan aviation company that has been operating cargo and passenger flights to Somalia in the last three decades.

African Express is owned by Captain Musa Hassan Bulhan, a career pilot and one of the pioneer aviation entrepreneurs in Kenya. Enditem

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