Mogadishu, Somalia – The Uganda Peoples’ Defence Forces (UPDF) has confirmed the deaths of five of its personnel following a helicopter crash in Somalia on Wednesday.
According to a statement by Maj Gen Felix Kulaigye, Director of Defence Public Information, the Mi-24 attack helicopter, tail number AUO-015, crashed while flying from Balidogle Airbase in the Lower Shabelle region. The aircraft went down near Aden Adde International Airport in Mogadishu.
Of the eight people on board — six crew members and two others — five were killed. The pilot, co-pilot, and flight engineer survived the crash but sustained serious injuries and severe burns.
The crash triggered a fire due to the detonation of onboard munitions, which caused significant damage to nearby structures and injured three civilians.
Flight operations at Aden Adde International Airport experienced minor delays but have since resumed.
A joint emergency response team, including firefighters from Mogadishu International Airport, personnel from the United Nations, and AUSSOM Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) units, responded promptly to manage the situation and support rescue efforts.
An investigation has been launched to determine the cause of the crash.
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