The Ugandan military helicopter crashed at the main international airport in Somalia, leading to a fire that was quickly controlled by emergency services. Eyewitnesses reported seeing smoke and flames, with one airport staff member, Farah Abdulle, describing the scene as chaotic. "We heard the blast and saw smoke and flames over a helicopter," Abdulle recounted. As of now, details regarding the cause of the crash and any potential casualties remain unclear.

The head of the Somali Civil Aviation Authority, Ahmed Maalim, indicated that the helicopter had just arrived from the Balidogle airbase in the Lower Shabelle region. An official investigation has commenced to determine the factors leading to this incident. The Ugandan troops, who form part of an African Union (AU) force, are engaged in ongoing efforts against the al-Qaeda-affiliated group al-Shabab, which has been instigating conflict in the region for many years.

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