A Ugandan military helicopter crashed and caught fire at Aden Adde International Airport in Somalia’s capital, Mogadishu, on Monday, killing five personnel onboard. The incident occurred in the airport’s military section and has been confirmed by both Ugandan and Somali officials.
The helicopter was conducting what the Ugandan military described as a “routine combat escort mission” when it crashed shortly after arriving from Balidogle airbase, located in the Lower Shabelle region about 90 kilometers northwest of Mogadishu.
The aircraft erupted in flames upon impact, sending thick smoke billowing into the sky and triggering immediate emergency response.
Eyewitnesses at the scene reported hearing a loud blast followed by dense smoke. “We heard the blast and saw smoke and flames over a helicopter. The smoke entirely covered the helicopter,” said Farah Abdulle, a staff member at the airport.
Despite the intense fire, emergency services quickly contained the blaze. Somalia’s state-run news agency confirmed that the fire was brought under control before it could spread to nearby facilities.
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Ugandan military spokesperson Maj Gen Felix Kulaigye stated that the pilot, co-pilot, and flight engineer survived but sustained serious injuries and severe burns. They are currently receiving medical treatment, while an investigation into the cause of the crash is underway.
Uganda is a key contributor to the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS), a multinational force working alongside the Somali government to combat the al-Qaeda-linked militant group al-Shabab. The insurgent group has waged a deadly campaign in the region for over two decades, targeting both military and civilian installations.
The crash caused a temporary delay in the departure of a Turkish Airlines flight, though domestic operations at the airport continued as normal, according to Ahmed Maalim, head of Somalia’s Civil Aviation Authority.
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