MOGADISHU (Somaliguardian) – A military helicopter operated by Ugandan peacekeepers under the African Union peacekeeping mission in Somalia (AUSSOM) crashed at Mogadishu’s Aden Adde International Airport on Wednesday, killing five of the eight personnel onboard and critically injuring the remaining three.
Videos circulating online showed the helicopter engulfed in flames, with thick smoke billowing from the runway. Witnesses reported a series of explosions, believed to be caused by ammunition onboard the aircraft, which also injured three civilians and damaged nearby structures.
The crash caused significant disruption to airport operations. Debris was scattered across a large section of the runway, forcing the diversion of incoming flights, including a Turkish Airlines plane that was rerouted to Nairobi, Kenya.
In a statement, the African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia confirmed the incident and said the three injured soldiers were receiving treatment at a mission-operated hospital in Mogadishu. Search and rescue operations were immediately launched following the crash.
The helicopter had reportedly taken off from the U.S. drone base in Baledogle, located southwest of the capital. The cause of the crash remains under investigation.
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