A Ugandan military helicopter carrying eight people crashed on Sunday at Aden Adde International Airport in Mogadishu, Somalia, according to officials. The incident occurred in the military section of the airport and caused a brief fire, which was swiftly extinguished by emergency services.
The head of Somalia’s Civil Aviation Authority, Ahmed Maalim, said the aircraft had flown in from Balidogle airbase, located about 90km northwest of Mogadishu in the Lower Shabelle region. “An investigation is under way to establish the cause of the crash,” Maalim said, adding that details on casualties remained unclear.
Footage from the scene showed thick plumes of black smoke rising from the crash site. “We heard the blast and saw smoke and flames over a helicopter. The smoke entirely covered the helicopter,” airport staffer Farah Abdulle told Reuters.
State-run media confirmed the fire had been contained quickly, and no further damage was reported.
The incident disrupted operations at the airport, delaying the departure of a Turkish Airlines flight, though domestic flights resumed without major issues.
Ugandan forces are part of the 11,000-strong African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS), supporting the Somali government’s decades-long battle against al-Qaeda-linked militant group al-Shabab.
Authorities have not yet confirmed whether the crash was caused by mechanical failure, human error, or another factor. The outcome of the investigation is expected in the coming days.
Chioma Kalu
Follow us on:
