Ugandan Military Helicopter Crashes in Somalia, Killing Five

A Ugandan military helicopter deployed as part of the African Union peacekeeping mission in Somalia crashed at Mogadishu’s Aden Adde International Airport on Wednesday, claiming the lives of five passengers, according to Ugandan military spokesperson Brigadier General Felix Kulayigye.

The helicopter, carrying eight people, crashed just moments before landing. Three of the occupants survived, but suffered severe injuries and burns, Kulayigye confirmed.

The crash impact triggered the detonation of onboard munitions, which destroyed nearby structures and injured three civilians, he added.

In a statement, the African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM) said search and rescue efforts were ongoing to recover all passengers and crew.

Eyewitness Farah Abdulle, who works at the airport, described the scene:

“We heard the blast and saw smoke and flames over a helicopter. The smoke entirely covered the helicopter.”

Photos from the scene showed thick smoke rising near the airport, consistent with the aftermath of the explosion.

Earlier reports from Somalia’s state-run SONNA confirmed that the helicopter had been engulfed in flames after crashing.

The helicopter was part of AUSSOM’s ongoing support mission in Somalia. The peacekeeping force includes over 11,000 personnel, working in collaboration with Somalia’s military to combat the al-Shabaab insurgency, an al-Qaeda-affiliated group that has been waging a violent campaign for nearly two decades to overthrow Somalia’s internationally recognized government and impose a harsh version of Sharia law.