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.
