A helicopter from the African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM) crashed at Mogadishu’s airport on Tuesday and was quickly engulfed in flames, according to the state-run SONNA news outlet.
The aircraft was carrying eight personnel when it went down during landing. SONNA reported that the fire has been contained, but it was not immediately clear if there were any casualties. An AUSSOM spokesperson could not be reached for comment.
Farah Abdulle, an airport worker, told Reuters, “We heard the blast and saw smoke and flames over a helicopter. The smoke completely covered the helicopter.”
AUSSOM maintains over 11,000 personnel in Somalia, working to support the country’s military efforts against the Islamist group Al-Shabab. This group, linked to Al-Qaeda, has been fighting for nearly two decades to overthrow Somalia’s internationally recognized government and establish a regime based on a strict interpretation of sharia law.
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