UPDF launches investigation into military chopper crash in Somalia

KAMPALA, Uganda | Xinhua | The Ugandan military on Friday announced investigations into a military helicopter crash in Somalia where four peacekeepers survived the accident, a spokesperson said here.

Felix Kulayigye, Uganda’s military spokesperson, told Xinhua over the telephone that investigations will establish the cause of the crash of the Ugandan military transport chopper that went down shortly after leaving Mogadishu, the capital of Somalia, Thursday evening.

Kulayigye said the chopper was flying from Mogadishu to Belidoogle airfield, about 90 km northwest of the Somali capital, with four people on board.

“The aircraft [chopper] crash landed and all on board are safe [survived]. Whenever there is an air accident there must be an investigation,” said Kulayigye.

Uganda is one of the troop-contributing countries to the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia. ■