A helicopter operated by the African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM) crashed early Wednesday morning near Afisyoni, the former Somali Air Force base located next to Aden Adde International Airport in Mogadishu.

The aircraft had taken off from the Balidoogle airbase in the Lower Shabelle Region, which is managed by the United States.

 According to Ahmed Maallin Hassan, the Director of Somalia’s Civil Aviation Authority, the helicopter was carrying eight people when it went down.

The condition of those on board remains unknown as rescue teams continue to search the wreckage.

Following the crash, about 600 meters of the airport runway were closed off to allow for cleanup and safety checks.

Despite the incident, operations at the airport continued, with the remaining 2,400 meters of the runway kept open.

Flights have not faced major disruption, according to airport officials.

Thick black smoke could be seen rising from the wreckage, briefly affecting visibility for incoming pilots.

However, airport firefighting teams acted quickly and managed to contain the fire shortly after the crash.

Authorities have not released the cause of the crash.

The identities and nationalities of the eight people on board have also not been made public. AUSOM and Somali government officials have both launched investigations to determine what led to the incident.

As of now, the priority remains on recovery efforts and securing the crash site. Further details are expected once investigations progress and the status of those onboard becomes clearer.