A military helicopter from the African Union (AU) Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM) crash-landed and burst into flames at Mogadishu’s Aden Abdulle International Airport on Wednesday, July 2, morning.
The AU confirmed that the military chopper belonged to the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF).
According to Somalia’s state-run broadcaster SONNA, the helicopter was carrying eight personnel at the time of the crash.
Three out of the eight people on board survived, and rescue operations are ongoing to locate the others. The cause of the crash is still unknown.
Further, authorities confirmed that the fire was quickly contained, but details on the condition of those onboard remain unclear. As of Tuesday evening, no official confirmation had been made regarding injuries or fatalities.
The incident occurred during landing, and witnesses reported a loud blast followed by thick smoke rising from the aircraft.
Additionally, Station staff Farah Abdulle described hearing a blast, followed by dense smoke that entirely covered the helicopter
“We heard the blast and saw smoke and flames over a helicopter. The smoke entirely covered the helicopter,” said Farah Abdulle.
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At the same time, images and video circulating online showed emergency responders rushing to the scene as flames engulfed the helicopter.
Consequently, security was temporarily heightened at the airport, though operations resumed after the fire was brought under control.
The cause of the crash is not yet known, and investigations are expected to be launched jointly by African Union authorities and Somali aviation officials.
Earlier AU Chopper Crash
This is the second helicopter-related incident involving the AU mission in Somalia in recent weeks.
In June, a helicopter used by the African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM) reportedly experienced a technical malfunction during a flood evacuation mission in Xawaadleey, north of Mogadishu.
The aircraft, which is also used by the United Nations, was involved in airlifting troops and civilians from a flooded Forward Operating Base manned by Burundian soldiers.
Later, the Militant group Al-Shabaab published images online claiming responsibility for bringing down the helicopter.
However, the African Union dismissed the claims, stating that the aircraft developed a mechanical issue that was resolved, allowing the pilots to safely land without incident.
“All troops and crew were successfully evacuated to the nearest military base, and no casualties were reported,” read a statement issued by the AU following the incident.
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About the Mission
The African Union’s AUSSOM mission includes over 11,000 troops deployed across Somalia.
The force supports the Somali National Army in its battle against al-Shabaab, an al-Qaeda-linked militant group that has been fighting to overthrow Somalia’s government for nearly two decades.
Moreover, Al-Shabaab frequently targets Somali and AU troops, especially in southern and central Somalia.
However, there is currently no indication that Tuesday’s helicopter crash was the result of hostile action.
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