Drone strike hits Myanmar passenger plane

A Myanmar National Airlines passenger plane was struck during a drone attack on Myitkyina Airport in northern Myanmar late on 20 February, in an incident that has heightened tensions in the conflict-ridden Kachin State.

The ATR-72 aircraft was preparing for take-off when drones targeted the runway, reportedly launched by forces linked to the Kachin Independence Organisation (KIA) and the People’s Defence Force (PDF). The plane sustained minor damage to its nose and tail lights, but all passengers and crew escaped unharmed.

Authorities described the assault as a deliberate strike on civilian infrastructure, calling it a violation of international law and a war crime under the Geneva Conventions. Security forces said they intercepted several drones before they could detonate inside the airport, defusing explosives to prevent further casualties.

The KIA, however, denied involvement. Spokesman Naw Bu told the BBC that the group does not target civilian airlines and had taken no action against the flight.

Myitkyina Airport is a vital transport hub, connecting the northern state of Kachin with Yangon and Mandalay. Its role in moving goods and passengers makes it a strategic target in Myanmar’s ongoing conflict, where armed groups have increasingly turned to drones to disrupt government control.

Officials say the attack is part of a wider campaign by resistance forces to undermine state authority, with drones previously used against roads, bridges, schools and hospitals.

Security operations in the area have been stepped up, with the military vowing “effective and strong responses” to further threats.

The incident underscores the growing use of drone warfare in Myanmar’s civil conflict, raising fears over the safety of civilian infrastructure and the fragile stability of the region.

-2026-02-23