Military plane bursts into flames at Mogadishu airport

A military aircraft burst into flames moments after landing at the international airport inSomali capital Mogadishu on Friday, sending a thick plume ofblack smoke into the sky, airport staff and witnesses said.

Small blasts could be heard from the stricken plane. Airportworkers said they believed they were caused by explodingammunition.

"We hear explosions as it burns. It is burning like hell. Itis sure it will end up in ash," one security source at theairport told Reuters.

The source said the blaze was so intense firefighting crewswere unable to tackle the blaze.

There was no immediate word on the crew and it was not clearwhere the military aircraft was flying from.

Military aircraft regularly land at the city's airport,which also serves as the headquarters for an African Union forcebattling al Qaeda-linked militants.