An Ethiopian Air Force cargo plane crash-landed at Mogadishu’s seaside airport on Friday, killing four people on board, the African Union said.
Two crew members were rescued by emergency personnel and are being treated in the African Union military hospital near the base, said Mahamat Saleh Annadif, an African Union representative to Somalia. He said the runway wasn’t damaged and airport operations are expected to resume soon.
The 8 a.m. crash sent dark plumes of smoke over Mogadishu. An airport official who insisted on anonymity said the plane was full of weapons. The official insisted on anonymity because he is not an authorized spokesman.
The weapons most likely would have been destined for African Union or Somali troops, who continue to battle al-Qaida-linked militants from al-Shabab. The militants have shot at planes in the past but not in recent years.
Air traffic has increased significantly at the airport as Mogadishu continues on a slow recovery from decades of warfare. Two major international carriers Turkish Airlines and Air Uganda operate direct flights into Mogadishu.
