A helicopter operated by the African Union crashed on Wednesday while attempting to land at Mogadishu’s Aden Adde International Airport, according to Somalia’s state media.
The aircraft, which was carrying eight people at the time, was part of the African Union Support and Stabilisation Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM), which is engaged in counterinsurgency operations against the Al-Shabaab militant group.
The Somali National News Agency (SONNA) reported that the helicopter went down during its landing attempt after departing from Balidoogle, a key military base. The incident occurred in the early hours of Wednesday morning.
The agency added that the resulting fire had been brought under control and that an investigation was underway. No information has been released regarding injuries or the condition of those onboard.
Despite the incident, Somalia’s civil aviation authority said airport operations were continuing as normal.
Although official details remain limited, images and video footage circulating on social media—yet to be verified—appear to show thick plumes of black smoke rising over parts of the capital.
The crash comes at a time when the AU mission, which has faced persistent funding challenges, is under pressure to contain a potential resurgence of Al-Shabaab, the jihadist group that continues to stage deadly attacks across Somalia.
