There was a Problem and an Emergency Landing, the UN Helicopter was Confiscated by the Somali Militant Group Al-Shabaab

Illustration of a UN helicopter. (Wikimedia Commons/Jaffnaanna)

JAKARTA - A UN helicopter carrying several passengers and forced to make an emergency landing was ambushed and confiscated by the Somali militant group, Al-Shabaab in the group's area, according to a UN spokesperson.

Confirming the capture of the helicopter, UN Spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said an assessment team was being prepared, as quoted by CNN, January 11.

The state-run Somali National News Agency (SONNA) said a UN emergency relief helicopter made an emergency landing, possibly due to mechanical problems in Somalia's Galmudug region, which is controlled by the Al-Qaeda-affiliated group.

There were eight passengers on board, including foreigners, and rescues were underway, according to SONNA.

The UN Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNSOM) said the helicopter was "conducting a medical evacuation by air" and further information would be released later.

Meanwhile, military official Major Hassan Ali said the plane was damaged shortly after taking off from the town of Beledweyne in central Somalia, before landing near the village of Hindhere.

"Two Somali men and several foreigners were on board. The helicopter was also carrying medical supplies and was supposed to transport injured soldiers from the Galguduud area," he was quoted as saying by Reuters.

A UN worker who did not want to be named said earlier that the helicopter's passengers included five foreigners. Meanwhile, two UN sources familiar with the matter said the helicopter was carrying nine passengers.

It is known that the Al Shabaab group, which is linked to Al Qaeda, has been waging an insurgency against the Somali government since 2006 in an attempt to form its own government.