MOGADISHU – Operations at Aden Abdulle International Airport were temporarily halted Wednesday morning following the crash of a military helicopter operated by the African Union’s Uganda contingent. The incident occurred around 7:30 a.m. as the helicopter approached the airport from the Baledogle military airbase.
Authorities confirmed that eight individuals were on board at the time of the crash. Emergency responders rescued three survivors, who are now receiving medical treatment. Five others are feared dead, although official confirmation is pending.
Footage from the scene shows vehicles engulfed in flames and emergency teams evacuating the area. The explosion that followed the crash caused significant disruption to airport activities, which were suspended for several hours.
The African Union and Somali government have launched a joint investigation to determine the cause of the crash. No details have yet been released about what may have led to the incident.
The helicopter was part of ongoing peacekeeping and security operations under the AU Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS), which supports Somali security forces in stabilizing the country.
