A Ugandan military helicopter carrying eight people has crashed at Aden Adde International Airport in Somalia’s capital, Mogadishu, according to an aviation official who spoke to the BBC.
Somalia’s state-run news agency reported that a fire broke out following the crash but was swiftly contained by emergency services. Video footage from the scene showed plumes of smoke rising from the airport.
“We heard the blast and saw smoke and flames over a helicopter. The smoke entirely covered the helicopter,” said Farah Abdulle, an airport employee, speaking to Reuters.
The crash occurred in the military section of the airport after the helicopter flew in from Balidogle Airbase in the Lower Shabelle region, according to Ahmed Maalim, head of the Somali Civil Aviation Authority.
He confirmed that an investigation is underway to determine the cause of the crash. Casualty details remain unclear.
Ugandan troops are part of the African Union peacekeeping mission supporting Somalia’s government in its fight against al-Qaeda-linked al-Shabab militants, who have waged a deadly insurgency for years.
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