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6 days ago
- First Post
Somalia: Uganda's Military Helicopter Crash in Mogadishu Kills Five
Somalia: Uganda's Military Helicopter Crash in Mogadishu Kills Five | Firstpost Africa Somalia: Uganda's Military Helicopter Crash in Mogadishu Kills Five | Firstpost Africa A tragic incident unfolded in Somalia as a Ugandan military helicopter crashed in the capital, Mogadishu. The chopper turned into a ball of fire upon crashing, sending out huge plumes of thick black smoke into the air. The Mi-24 helicopter crashed at the Aden Adde International Airport, killing five Ugandan soldiers out of the eight people on board. The Ugandan military said the pilot, co-pilot and flight engineer survived with serious injuries and severe burns. The authorities have launched a probe into the crash of the chopper that was serving the African Union peacekeeping mission in Somalia. The African Union Support and Stabilisation Mission in Somalia helps the government fight the al-Shabaab, the al-Qaeda affiliate group. See More


Daily Mail
03-07-2025
- Daily Mail
Moment military helicopter explodes into ball of flames after crash as it arrived back at airport
Five people have been killed after a Ugandan military helicopter crashed at the main international airport in Somalia's capital, Mogadishu. The Mi-24 helicopter with eight people on board was arriving from an airfield in the Lower Shabelle region before it plummeted to the ground and went up in flames. The aircraft had originally belonged to the Ugandan Air Force but was being operated by the African Union peacekeeping mission. Uganda's military said in a statement that the helicopter was on 'a routine combat escort mission' when it crashed at around 7:30am. The pilot, co-pilot and flight engineer survived the crash with serious injuries and severe burns, it said. The impact of the crash had caused munitions on board to detonate, destroying nearby structures and injuring three civilians, Ugandan military spokesperson Felix Kulayigye added. Somalia's state-run news agency reported that the fire was quickly contained by the emergency services at the Aden Adde International Airport. Ahmed Moalim Hassan, director-general of the Somalia Civil Aviation Authority, told state media that investigations are now underway. Aviation officer Omar Farah, who was among the first to reach the crash site, told The Associated Press that he 'saw the helicopter spinning and then it fell very fast.' Abdirahim Ali, a nearby resident, said he saw 'a huge explosion and smoke everywhere.' 'We heard the blast and saw smoke and flames over a helicopter. The smoke entirely covered the helicopter,' Farah Abdulle, one of the staff at the airport, told Reuters news agency. Minor delays were reported at the Aden Adde airport, but flights and other operations have since resumed. The African Union peacekeeping mission, known as AUSSOM, is helping Somali authorities to fight the extremist rebels of al-Shabab, a group that opposes the presence of foreign troops in the Horn of Africa nation. The mission includes troops from countries including Uganda and Kenya. Ugandan forces have been heavily involved in assisting Somalia's government in combating the al-Shabab group, which has been fighting a bloody insurgency and is affiliated with al-Qaeda. Reports indicate that the insurgent group had been forced onto the defensive in 2022 and 2023 by Somali forces backed by African Union-led peacekeepers. Over 10,000 African Union troops are now engaged in Somalia, with roughly half coming from Uganda. The United Nations Security Council authorized the AU forces, and various versions of the peacekeeping mission have been deployed since 2007.

Business Insider
02-07-2025
- Politics
- Business Insider
African Union military helicopter crashes at Somalia's main airport
A military helicopter belonging to the African Union peacekeeping mission in Somalia crashed and caught fire at Mogadishu's Aden Adde International Airport on Tuesday. A military helicopter associated with the African Union peacekeeping mission in Somalia crashed at Mogadishu's Aden Adde International Airport. The helicopter was operating under the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS). The incident occurred in the military section of the airport during landing after flying from Balidogle airbase, carrying eight people onboard. A military helicopter belonging to the African Union peacekeeping mission in Somalia crashed and caught fire at Mogadishu's Aden Adde International Airport on Tuesday. The head of the Somali Civil Aviation Authority, Ahmed Maalim, said that the helicopter had come down in the airport's military section after flying in from the Balidogle airbase in the Lower Shabelle region. The aircraft, part of the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS), now operating under the African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM), carried eight personnel when it crashed during landing, according to state-run media outlet SONNA. SONNA reported on X (formerly Twitter) that the resulting fire was quickly controlled. It remains unclear whether there were any casualties. A spokesperson for AUSSOM was not immediately available for comment. "We heard the blast and saw smoke and flames over a helicopter," Farah Abdulle, who works at the airport, told Reuters. "The smoke entirely covered the helicopter." AUSSOM maintains over 11,000 personnel in Somalia to assist the national army in combating the Islamist militant group al Shabaab.

Business Insider
02-07-2025
- Business Insider
Ugandan mlitary helicopter crashes at Somalia amid continued peacekeeping efforts
A helicopter belonging to the Ugandan military has crashed at the international airport in Mogadishu, Somalia's capital. A Ugandan military helicopter crashed at Aden Adde International Airport in Mogadishu, Somalia. Emergency services quickly extinguished a fire that erupted after the crash. Ugandan forces are supporting Somalia in combating the al-Shabaab insurgency alongside African Union peacekeepers. The helicopter crash at Aden Adde International Airport in Mogadishu, Somalia, has drawn significant attention. Ahmed Maalim, the head of the Somali Civil Aviation Authority, confirmed to the BBC that at least eight individuals were on board the ill-fated aircraft. While the exact number of casualties remains undetermined at this time, an ongoing investigation aims to shed light on the incident. Maalim further elaborated that the helicopter had come from the Balidogle airbase, located in the Lower Shabelle region, before it ultimately crashed within the military section of the airport. Prompt action by emergency services was crucial, as a fire erupted upon impact. A report from the state-run news agency confirmed that these services were able to quickly extinguish the fire, preventing further damage or harm. "We heard the blast and saw smoke and flames over a helicopter. The smoke entirely covered the helicopter," Farah Abdulle, one of the airport staff, told Reuters news agency. The primary objective of the current investigation is to ascertain the precise cause of this accident. Authorities are meticulously examining all available evidence to determine what led to the crash, ensuring that appropriate measures can be taken to prevent similar incidents in the future. Further updates are expected as the investigation progresses. Uganda and Somalia's fight against insurgency Ugandan forces have been heavily involved in assisting Somalia's government in combating the al-Shabab group, which has been fighting a bloody insurgency and is affiliated with al-Qaeda.
Yahoo
02-07-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Ugandan military helicopter crashes at Somalia airport, official says
A Ugandan military helicopter with eight people on board has crashed at the main international airport in Somalia's capital, Mogadishu, an aviation official has told the BBC. The state-run news agency reported that a fire broke out after the helicopter crashed at the Aden Adde International Airport, but it had been quickly contained by the emergency services. Video footage showed plumes of smoke rising from the airport. "We heard the blast and saw smoke and flames over a helicopter. The smoke entirely covered the helicopter," Farah Abdulle, one of the airport staff, told Reuters news agency. The cause of the crash and casualty figures are unclear. The head of the Somali Civil Aviation Authority, Ahmed Maalim, told the BBC that the helicopter had come down in the airport's military section after flying in from the Balidogle airbase in the Lower Shabelle region. He said that an investigation was under way to establish the cause of the crash. Ugandan troops are part of an African Union (AU) force helping the government fight the al-Qaeda-linked al-Shabab group, which has been waging a brutal insurgency in Somalia. Go to for more news from the African continent. Follow us on Twitter @BBCAfrica, on Facebook at BBC Africa or on Instagram at bbcafrica Focus on Africa