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Mogadishu Airport Blast: Military Helicopter Crashes Inside UN-Protected Halane Zone
By Gebre Tatios in Nairobi
A military helicopter crashed inside Mogadishu’s heavily fortified Adan Abdulle International Airport early Wednesday morning, triggering a loud explosion and thick plumes of smoke visible across the Somali capital.
The crash occurred within the Halane compound, a high-security zone housing United Nations agencies, AU Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS), and multiple foreign diplomatic missions. The Somali government has not yet issued an official statement on the incident.
According to Somali Civil Aviation Authority officials, eight people were on board the helicopter at the time of the crash. Search and rescue teams were swiftly deployed to the site, and an emergency response operation is currently underway. The condition of those on board remains unclear.
Initial reports suggest the helicopter was en route to Bali-Dogle military airport, located west of Mogadishu, which serves as a key base for U.S. troops and Somalia’s elite Danab special forces.
While the cause of the crash is not yet confirmed, eyewitnesses near the airport described hearing a “massive bang followed by smoke billowing into the air”, prompting immediate lockdown measures in parts of the airport zone.
Security officials and foreign diplomats stationed in Halane have not commented publicly, but sources on the ground describe the atmosphere as tense, with non-essential personnel advised to shelter in place until further notice.
Adan Abdulle International Airport is one of the most secure facilities in Somalia, with international peacekeepers and private contractors maintaining round-the-clock surveillance. A crash of this scale within such a protected area raises serious concerns about aviation safety protocols and operational oversight.
As of this report, there is no indication of foul play or militant involvement. However, investigations are ongoing, and aviation authorities say a preliminary report will be released in due course.
Developing story. More to follow.
