A Turkish unmanned aerial vehicle (drone) crashed at Aden Adde International Airport in Mogadishu on Saturday evening, 18 July 2026, briefly forcing the closure of part of the airport’s aircraft landing area for security reasons.
The drone, a Bayraktar TB2 operated by the Turkish military, crashed shortly after returning to the airport, nearly an hour after takeoff.
The aircraft, which is mainly used for surveillance and aerial reconnaissance missions, caught fire at the crash site.
Security officials at Aden Adde Airport told Kaab TV that the cause of the malfunction that led to the Turkish drone crashing inside the airport remains unknown.
The crash caused the drone to burst into flames, prompting authorities to temporarily close part of the runway area used by aircraft for takeoffs and landings as a precautionary security measure.
Airport sources said the closure was necessary to ensure safety while the incident was handled.
The Turkish government has not commented on the incident, and Somali authorities have also not issued any details regarding the crash.
Turkey uses part of Aden Adde International Airport in Mogadishu for military operations, where it operates unmanned aerial vehicles and other military aircraft, including F-16 fighter jets that it recently deployed to Somalia.
The presence of Turkish military aircraft and drone operations at an airport also used by civilian airlines has raised concerns among some aviation companies and civilian institutions, which warn that the mixing of military activities with civilian aviation operations could create security risks.
Turkish drones regularly conduct surveillance flights over Mogadishu and surrounding areas and have also been used in airstrikes against al-Shabaab militants, particularly in areas near the capital.
However, Turkish forces have previously faced allegations that drone strikes caused civilian casualties in parts of Lower Shabelle and Middle Shabelle as well as the outskirts of Baidoa, and Buurhakaba.
In March 2024, Amnesty International said 23 civilians included 14 children, five women and four men were killed by Somalia and Turkish airstrike conducted by Turkish drones near Mogadishu.
Another 17 civilians were injured in the strikes: 11 children, two women and four men. All are from the marginalized Gorgaarte clan.
The Turkish government has not officially addressed those allegations.