A Ugandan military helicopter deployed under the African Union peacekeeping mission in Somalia crashed at Mogadishu’s international airport on Wednesday, resulting in the deaths of five personnel, according to military spokesperson Felix Kulayigye.
Three other occupants out of the eight on board survived the crash but suffered critical injuries and severe burns.
The crash reportedly caused onboard munitions to explode, damaging nearby structures and injuring three civilians in the area.
In a statement, the African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM) confirmed that search and rescue operations were ongoing to recover the remaining crew and passengers. AUSSOM noted that the helicopter crash-landed just moments before its scheduled landing at the airport.
Earlier reports from Somalia’s state news agency SONNA indicated that the aircraft caught fire shortly after impact. Witnesses, including airport worker Farah Abdulle, said they heard a loud explosion and saw thick smoke and flames engulfing the helicopter.
AUSSOM currently maintains a force of over 11,000 personnel in Somalia, assisting the Somali military in combating al Shabaab, a militant group aligned with al Qaeda. The group has waged a prolonged insurgency aimed at overthrowing Somalia’s internationally recognized government and imposing strict Sharia law.
