In a significant development, BAE Systems has ended its support for aircraft that are crucial for delivering aid, specifically affecting humanitarian programs in Somalia and other impoverished nations. The company has revoked the airworthiness license of its Advanced Turbo-Prop (ATP) commercial aircraft with the UK Civil Aviation Authority. According to BAE, the ATP is no longer produced, and there are only a few aircraft currently in operation.

This decision will ground the fleet operated by Kenyan air-cargo firm EnComm Aviation, which specialized in running contracts for humanitarian aid programs. Notably, one such program, run by the United Nation's World Food Program, flew aid to 12 locations in Somalia. The UN reports that approximately 4.6 million people in Somalia face famine and 1.8 million children under the age of five suffer from malnutrition.

Documents obtained by The Guardian indicate that EnComm’s contract with the WFP for aid delivery in Somalia, initially set to run until August 2026, has been canceled due to BAE's move. EnComm Aviation's director, Jackton Obuola, expressed deep concern over this decision, highlighting how it not only grounds their fleet but also cuts off vital supplies to those in dire need. The people of East Africa are now facing an increasingly perilous situation as BAE prioritizes its commercial interests.

The ATP was particularly suited for aid distribution due to its ability to operate on small runways common in remote locations, with a cargo capacity of around 8 tons. From March 2023 to September 2025, EnComm successfully delivered 18,677 tons of food aid across various countries, including Somalia and South Sudan. It is noted that one ton of aid can feed approximately 1,660 people for a day.

EnComm has taken legal action against BAE, asserting that the decision to ground the aircraft was made without proper consultation or notice. The airline seeks compensation amounting to £187 million for losses and damages, claiming negligence in representation and misstatement by BAE. Encomm now finds its fleet of 12 aid planes 'worthless for their intended purpose,' a blow to ongoing humanitarian efforts.