A helicopter belonging to the African Union Support and Stabilisation Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM) crashed at Mogadishu International Airport on Wednesday morning, July 2, 2025. The incident, involving a Uganda Peoples’ Defence Forces (UPDF) Mi-24 helicopter, occurred around 7:30 am local time (0430 GMT) approximately 200 metres east of the North Ramp. The aircraft had departed from the Baledogle military airbase, located about 90 kilometres from the Somalian capital, and was on a routine combat escort mission when it went down.

The crash resulted in significant casualties among the eight personnel aboard the helicopter. Major General Felix Kulayigye, Director of Defence Public Information for the UPDF, confirmed that five crew members died in the crash. The pilot, co-pilot, and flight engineer survived the initial impact but sustained severe burns and serious injuries. They, along with three civilians injured by the incident, were promptly evacuated to the AUSSOM Sector 1 Level II Hospital for urgent medical treatment.

Eyewitnesses reported a fire erupting after the chopper crashed, accompanied by an explosion of onboard munitions which caused considerable damage to nearby structures. Smoke and flames were visible over the city, and the incident initially led to delays for several flights. However, civil aviation authorities confirmed that the fire was subsequently contained, and flight operations at Mogadishu International Airport resumed normalcy despite some debris scattering across the runway. A joint emergency response team, comprising firefighters from the airport and the United Nations, alongside AUSSOM Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) personnel, is managing the crash site and assisting with rescue operations.

The African Union Support and Stabilisation Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM) came into effect on January 1, succeeding the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS). Its primary mandate is to assist the Somalian national army in its fight against the Islamist militant group Al-Shabaab and affiliates linked to ISIL/Daesh. AUSSOM also aims to transfer full security responsibilities to Somali security forces by December 2029, maintaining over 11,000 personnel in Somalia to achieve this goal. The mission, however, faces ongoing challenges, including funding difficulties and persistent fears of an Al-Shabaab resurgence, as the insurgents continue their nearly two-decade-long campaign to overthrow the Somalian government.

Authorities have initiated an investigation to determine the exact cause of the helicopter crash. Both the Somali Civil Aviation Authority and AUSSOM have confirmed that inquiries are underway into the tragic incident.