A Ugandan military helicopter crashed at the Aden Adde International Airport in Mogadishu, igniting a fire that led to the death of five individuals on board, as confirmed by military sources. The pilot, co-pilot, and flight engineer managed to survive but suffered serious injuries including severe burns, according to Ugandan military spokesman, Maj Gen Felix Kulaigye. The cause of the crash remains under investigation.
Ugandan Military Helicopter Crash Claims Five Lives in Mogadishu
Ugandan Military Helicopter Crash Claims Five Lives in Mogadishu
A tragic incident unfolds as a Ugandan military helicopter crashes at Somalia's main airport, resulting in multiple casualties.
Eyewitness Farah Abdulle, an airport staff member, reported hearing a blast followed by seeing smoke and flames enveloping the helicopter shortly after the crash. Fortunately, emergency services quickly contained the fire at the scene. Reports indicate that the helicopter was on a routine combat escort mission, having flown in from the Balidogle airbase located approximately 90 kilometers north-west of Mogadishu.
The African Union force, which comprises around 11,000 troops from Uganda, plays a crucial role in assisting the Somali government in combating the al-Qaeda-affiliated militant group, al-Shabab, that has been engaged in an ongoing insurgency in the region for over two decades. The crash prompted a temporary delay for a Turkish Airlines passenger flight; however, domestic services continued without interruption.
As more information about the incident emerges, an investigation is expected to provide further clarity on the circumstances surrounding the fatal crash.
The African Union force, which comprises around 11,000 troops from Uganda, plays a crucial role in assisting the Somali government in combating the al-Qaeda-affiliated militant group, al-Shabab, that has been engaged in an ongoing insurgency in the region for over two decades. The crash prompted a temporary delay for a Turkish Airlines passenger flight; however, domestic services continued without interruption.
As more information about the incident emerges, an investigation is expected to provide further clarity on the circumstances surrounding the fatal crash.
