A helicopter operated by the African Union Help and Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM) crashed on Wednesday whereas trying to land at Aden Adde Worldwide Airport in Mogadishu, Somalia’s capital, based on the Somali Nationwide Information Company (SONNA).
In a submit on its official X account, SONNA disclosed that the helicopter, which was carrying eight personnel, crashed after departing from Balidoogle Airfield within the Decrease Shabelle area.
The crash induced a hearth, which was shortly contained, and authorities are at present assessing the state of affairs. SONNA added that flight operations on the airport stay regular regardless of the incident.
“An AUSSOM helicopter carrying 8 personnel crashed throughout touchdown at Mogadishu’s Aden Adde Airport this morning after departing Balidoogle. The hearth has been contained, and authorities are assessing the state of affairs. Civil Aviation says flight operations stay regular,” SONNA’s X submit learn.
Nairametrics reviewed stories from a number of sources, together with Anadolu Company, to trace the incident. A civil aviation official in Mogadishu confirmed the crash and stated there have been casualties, though the precise variety of these killed or injured had not been decided. Emergency responders, together with firefighters and rescue groups, arrived on the airport shortly after the crash.
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Reuters additionally reported that eyewitnesses noticed thick smoke and flames rising from the crash web site shortly after the helicopter went down.
“We heard the blast and noticed smoke and flames over a helicopter. The smoke solely coated the helicopter,” stated Farah Abdulle, an airport employee who was on obligation on the time.
A resident of the Waberi district additionally advised Anadolu Company that she had seen heavy smoke coming from the airport on Wednesday morning, describing it as unusually thick and alarming.
- The Somali Civil Aviation Authority confirmed that the crash occurred within the army part of the airport. Its director, Ahmed Maalim, advised the BBC that the helicopter had arrived from Balidoogle Airfield and that an investigation had been launched to find out the reason for the incident.
- The plane was believed to have been operated by Ugandan troops, who function a part of the African Union peacekeeping drive in Somalia. The AU mission has continued to help the Somali authorities in its long-standing battle in opposition to the al-Qaeda-linked militant group al-Shabab.
On the time of this report, the African Union mission had not launched an official assertion concerning the incident. Nairametrics continues to watch the state of affairs carefully and can present updates as extra info turns into accessible.
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