Helicopter crash during takeoff kills at least 3 in Mogadishu

Helicopter crash during takeoff kills at least 3 in Mogadishu

[Mogadishu, July 2, 2025] — A helicopter belonging to the African Union peacekeeping mission crashed at Aden Adde International Airport in Somalia’s capital, Mogadishu, killing at least three people, authorities have confirmed.

The incident occurred on Wednesday morning as the helicopter was landing, after taking off from Baledogle airbase in the Lower Shabelle region.

The helicopter was operated by the Ugandan Air Force but was deployed under the African Union's Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM). It was carrying eight passengers, of whom three died. The condition of the remaining five is still unclear.

Eyewitness accounts of the crash

Eyewitnesses reported that the helicopter suddenly slammed into the ground and exploded into flames.

Abdirahim Ali, a resident near the airport, said:

“I saw a massive explosion and the area was covered in smoke.”

Omar Farah, an aviation official, added:

“I saw the helicopter spinning, then it dropped quickly.”

Flight operations return to normal

While the crash caused temporary delays, Somalia’s Civil Aviation Authority confirmed that the runway has been cleared and all flight operations have resumed normally.

AUSSOM’s role and background

AUSSOM currently has about 11,000 peacekeepers in Somalia from countries including Uganda and Kenya, supporting local forces in their fight against the militant group Al-Shabaab.

Al-Shabaab, an al-Qaeda-linked jihadist group, seeks to overthrow the Somali government and establish a strict Islamic state.

Recent counterterrorism success

Earlier this week, Somalia’s military killed a senior Al-Shabaab leader in an operation in the Dar Nama’a area of the Middle Shabelle region, according to the Somali National News Agency (SONNA).

The army stated that the operation targeted the individual specifically, marking a recent gain in the country's ongoing security efforts.