Ugandan Military Helicopter Crashes in Mogadishu Airport Incident

A Ugandan military helicopter carrying eight people crashed at the main international airport in Somalia’s capital, Mogadishu, sparking a fire that emergency services rapidly extinguished. Eyewitness reports describe hearing a blast and seeing smoke and flames rising from the helicopter. While the Somali Civil Aviation Authority confirmed the crash occurred in the military section of the airport after the helicopter arrived from Balidogle airbase, the cause and details on casualties remain unclear. An inquiry into the crash's circumstances is underway as Ugandan troops continue to support Somalia against the al-Qaeda-linked al-Shabab insurgent group.

Civil authorities are currently assessing the circumstances behind the crash at Aden Adde International Airport, with preliminary reports highlighting a swift emergency response that contained the resulting fire. Ahmed Maalim, head of the Somali Civil Aviation Authority, indicated that the incident involved a military helicopter that had recently landed from a mission linked to ongoing African Union operations in the region. Further updates are expected as the situation unfolds and more information becomes available.