A Ugandan military helicopter crashed at the Aden Adde International Airport in Somalia, resulting in the death of five individuals on board, while the crew survived with serious injuries. An investigation into the incident is underway.
Ugandan Military Helicopter Crash in Somalia Claims Five Lives
Ugandan Military Helicopter Crash in Somalia Claims Five Lives
A tragic incident at Mogadishu's main airport highlights ongoing dangers in the region.
A Ugandan military helicopter tragically crashed and caught fire at the Aden Adde International Airport in Somalia's capital, Mogadishu, resulting in five fatalities among those onboard. According to Ugandan military spokesman Maj Gen Felix Kulaigye, the pilot, co-pilot, and flight engineer survived the incident but sustained "serious injuries and severe burns." An investigation into the exact cause of the crash is currently in progress.
Witnesses reported hearing a loud explosion followed by smoke and flames enveloping the helicopter. Farah Abdulle, an airport staff member, described the scene where "the smoke entirely covered the helicopter." Fortunately, Somalia's state-run news agency noted that emergency services quickly contained the fire.
The helicopter was part of an 11,000-strong African Union (AU) contingent, where Ugandan troops have been assisting the government in its fight against the al-Qaeda-linked al-Shabab group, which has spearheaded a violent insurgency in Somalia for over two decades. Maj Gen Kulaigye confirmed that the aircraft had been conducting a "routine combat escort mission" prior to the incident but provided no further details.
According to Ahmed Maalim, head of the Somali Civil Aviation Authority, the helicopter crashed in the airport's military section after arriving from the Balidogle airbase, situated approximately 90 km (about 56 miles) northwest of Mogadishu. The crash subsequently delayed a Turkish Airlines passenger plane's departure; however, domestic flights continued without interruption following the event.
