The African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) said Sunday that it has launched investigations into circumstances under which its helicopter crashed in southern Somalia injuring four Uganda Peoples Defense Forces (UPDF) soldiers.

The AU mission said the four soldiers were rescued when a helicopter on a mission to support its troops in Lower Shabelle region crashed soon after take-off in Balidogle on February 5, 2021.

AMISOM said the helicopter whose registration details were not disclosed belonged to the AU mission’s Aviation Unit from the Uganda People’s Defense Force.

“All four soldiers aboard the helicopter were rescued and are in a stable medical condition,” AMISOM said in a statement issued in Mogadishu.

“Investigations are ongoing to determine the cause of the crash. However, preliminary reports indicate that it was due to a mechanical failure,” the AU mission added

The UPDF Deputy Spokesperson Deo Akiiki confirmed the incident but could not divulge more details about the injured and the degree of injuries.

The UPDF deployed choppers in Somalia in July last year to help in the fight against Alshabab militants.