UN Pilot Pleads for Release from Somali Terror Group

A video has surfaced showing a Ukrainian and UN pilot appealing for help in captivity after a helicopter made an emergency landing in Somalia. The pilot, Oleynik Aleksandra, was captured by Al-Shabaab in January 2024. The UN has confirmed the incident and is working to secure the release of the pilot and other passengers. The video was first reported by local media in Somalia on December 14, 2025. AeroTime reported on the incident in January 2024, citing a UN memo. The UN is urging calm and cooperation in the face of the crisis. The incident has raised concerns about the safety of UN personnel and contractors in conflict zones.