MOGADISHU, Somalia — A Somali airline has praised one of its pilots after he successfully crash-landed a passenger aircraft that developed a technical fault shortly after take-off, ensuring that all 55 people on board survived.
The aircraft, operated by Starsky Aviation, was forced to make an emergency landing on the shoreline of the Indian Ocean, just beyond Mogadishu’s Aden Adde International Airport, on Tuesday morning.
According to Somalia’s Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), the plane, a Fokker 50 turboprop, reported a technical problem minutes after departure and requested clearance to return to the airport.
The aircraft touched down on the runway but was unable to come to a complete stop, overshooting the tarmac and coming to rest in shallow water near the coast, CAA Director Ahmed Macalin Hassan confirmed. The exact cause of the malfunction has not yet been established.
Footage shared on social media platform X showed passengers calmly disembarking from the aircraft and walking away from the wreckage along the shoreline. Authorities confirmed that no serious injuries were reported.
The African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) said both United Nations and African Union troops were “swiftly deployed” to assist with rescue efforts and secure the area. Somalia’s transport minister also visited the scene, according to an official statement posted on X.
Starsky Aviation credited the pilot’s composure and judgment with preventing loss of life.
“We are relieved to confirm that all passengers and crew are safe. Investigations are under way to establish what caused the technical issue that led to the emergency landing,” Starsky spokesman Hassan Mohamed Aden said.
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“The pilot’s swift and calm decision-making played a decisive role in ensuring the safety of everyone on board, and we commend him for how he handled the situation,” he added.
Aviation analysts note that the Fokker 50, widely used across Africa for short-haul routes, has a strong safety record but requires rigorous maintenance—an ongoing challenge for carriers operating in conflict-affected and resource-constrained environments.
Somalia’s Civil Aviation Authority said a joint investigation involving the airline and international aviation partners is under way, as the country continues efforts to strengthen air safety oversight amid rising domestic and regional air traffic.
