A United Nations helicopter carrying several passengers has been captured by terror group al-Shabaab after making an emergency landing in an area controlled by the group, a UN spokesman confirmed on Wednesday.

An assessment team is being prepared, UN Spokesman Stephane Dujarric said Wednesday, confirming the helicopter capture.

The UN emergency assistance helicopter made an emergency landing likely due to a mechanical issue in Somalias Galmudug region, which is controlled buy the al-Qaeda affiliated terror group, according to the state-run Somali National News Agency (SONNA).

There were eight passengers on board, including foreigners, and a rescue is underway, according to SONNA.

The United Nations Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNSOM) said the helicopter was conducting an air medical evacuation and that more information would be released when it becomes available.

This comes weeks after Maalim Ayman, a senior leader of the al-Shabaab militant group operating in Somalia and Kenya, was killed on December 17 by a joint military operation between the Somali and US forces.

Somali Minister for Information Daud Aweis announced the death of Hyman on Friday.

Ayman was accountable for planning multiple lethal terrorist attacks in Somalia and nearby countries, Aweis said in a statement on social media at the time.

Ayman is responsible for a terrorist attack on US and Kenyan personnel at Kenyas Manda Bay Airfield on January 5, 2020, US officials say. (CNN, excluding headline)