A Ugandan military helicopter with eight individuals on board crashed at the main international airport in Somalia's capital, Mogadishu, according to aviation officials. Initial reports from the state-run news agency indicated that the helicopter caught fire upon impact at Aden Adde International Airport but was quickly extinguished by emergency responders. Eyewitnesses, including airport staff member Farah Abdulle, described a loud explosion followed by billowing smoke and flames enveloping the helicopter. The specifics regarding the cause of the crash and any casualties remain unclear.
Ahmed Maalim, head of the Somali Civil Aviation Authority, reported to the BBC that the helicopter had been operating from the Balidogle airbase located in the Lower Shabelle region before the incident. He confirmed that an investigation into the cause of the crash has been initiated. Ugandan troops are part of an African Union (AU) force working alongside the Somali government to combat the al-Qaeda-affiliated al-Shabab militant group, which has been involved in a violent insurgency that has plagued Somalia for years.
