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BAE faces £120m lawsuit over decision to scrap support for aid aircraft
TL;DR
BAE Systems is facing a £120m lawsuit for ending support for aid aircraft, impacting humanitarian deliveries to South Sudan, Somalia, and the DRC. EnComm Aviation claims this decision led to the cancellation of contracts and reduced aid supplies.
Key points
- BAE Systems faces a £120m lawsuit
- Support for aid aircraft was scrapped
- Humanitarian contracts were canceled
- Aid supplies to South Sudan, Somalia, and DRC reduced
- EnComm Aviation delivered 18,677 tonnes of aid
Mentioned in this story
BAE SystemsEnComm AviationSouth SudanSomaliaDemocratic Republic of the Congo
Britain’s biggest weapons manufacturer, BAE Systems, is facing a £120m lawsuit after scrapping support for aircraft used to deliver aid to some of the world’s neediest countries.
EnComm Aviation, a Kenya-based aid cargo operator, claims the decision forced the cancellation of humanitarian contracts and reduced supplies to South Sudan, now threatened by famine, Somalia and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), among others.
BAE Systems recently announced record sales of more than £30bn, driven by escalating defence spending as global conflicts and heightened military tensions fuel demand.
EnComm announced it is taking legal action against BAE, alleging a breach in its duty of care after the company withdrew support for its Advanced Turbo-Prop (ATP) aircraft.
Between March 2023 and last September, EnComm’s fleet of ATP aircraft delivered 18,677 tonnes of aid to Somalia, South Sudan, Tanzania, the DRC, Central African Republic and Chad.
The aircraft was ideal for aid missions to remote locations because it could operate on short airstrips. Each aircraft could carry a load of 8.2 tonnes.
EnComm cancelled several large humanitarian contracts after BAE’s decision, including a UN programme to fly aid to 12 destinations across Somalia where 6.5 million people are facing acute food insecurity.
EnComm Aviation’s director, Jackton Obuola, said: “BAE’s pursuit of profit has cut off humanitarian aid for those most in need, destroying lives and our business in the process.”
Q&A
Why is BAE Systems being sued for £120m?
BAE Systems is being sued for allegedly breaching its duty of care by scrapping support for aid aircraft, which affected humanitarian operations.
What impact did BAE's decision have on aid deliveries?
The decision forced the cancellation of humanitarian contracts and reduced aid supplies to countries like South Sudan, Somalia, and the DRC, which are facing severe crises.
How much aid did EnComm Aviation deliver before BAE's support ended?
Before BAE's support ended, EnComm Aviation delivered 18,677 tonnes of aid using its ATP aircraft to various countries including Somalia and South Sudan.
