A Ugandan military helicopter crashed and caught fire at Aden Adde International Airport in Mogadishu, Somalia, causing significant disruption and raising concerns about the safety of military operations in the region. According to Ugandan army spokesman Maj Gen Felix Kulaigye, the helicopter was carrying eight people when the incident occurred.
Eyewitness accounts described a scene of chaos, with airport staff reporting a loud blast followed by thick smoke and flames engulfing the aircraft. Farah Abdulle, an airport employee, told Reuters news agency, “We heard the blast and saw smoke and flames over a helicopter. The smoke entirely covered the helicopter.” Emergency services were quick to respond, and Somalia’s state-run news agency reported that the fire was contained.
The crash has prompted investigations by both AU and Somali officials to determine the cause. Ahmed Maalim, head of the Somali Civil Aviation Authority, noted that the helicopter had flown from Balidogle airbase before crashing in the airport’s military section. The incident briefly delayed a Turkish Airlines passenger plane, but domestic flights have since resumed normal operations. The crash underscores the challenges and risks faced by military forces operating in Somalia, as well as the importance of ensuring the safety and maintenance of aircraft involved in these critical missions.
