All Safe After Mogadishu Aircraft Skids into Shallow Water
A passenger plane carrying 55 people made a dramatic crash-landing in shallow water near the shoreline close to Mogadishu’s international airport on Tuesday morning. The aircraft, a Fokker 50 operated by Starsky Aviation, was en route to the northern city of Galkayo when it encountered difficulties shortly after takeoff.
According to Somalia’s Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), the crew reported a technical issue approximately 15 minutes into the flight from Aden Adde International Airport. They requested permission to return to the airport to address the problem.
Ahmed Macalin Hassan, the CAA director, explained that the pilot attempted to land but was unable to bring the aircraft to a halt on the runway. The plane overshot the tarmac, ultimately coming to rest in the shallow waters near the coast.
Rescue Efforts and Passenger Safety
Miraculously, all 55 passengers and crew members on board survived the incident. Images circulating on social media from the scene depicted individuals calmly disembarking from the aircraft’s wreckage and walking away from the shallow water.
Starsky Aviation’s chief executive, Ahmed Nur, confirmed that the aircraft had “overran on the runway” before the emergency landing. He expressed immense relief, stating, “No injuries, no deaths.”
A spokesperson for Starsky Aviation, Hassan Mohamed Aden, issued a statement: “We are relieved to confirm that all passengers and crew are safe. Investigations are underway to establish what caused the technical issue that led to the emergency landing. 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.”
The African Union’s mission in Somalia also acknowledged the swift response, tweeting that “emergency responders, including @UNSOS_ and @AUSSOM_ troops, were swiftly deployed” to assist with the rescue operations.
Official Confirmation and Ongoing Investigation
The Somali Civil Aviation Authority provided further details, confirming that the aircraft, with registration number 60-YAS, an F50 model, was involved in a runway overrun incident at Mogadishu Aden Abdulle International Airport. The authority reiterated that all occupants survived and were promptly transported to a nearby hospital for medical evaluation and care, with no fatalities reported.
The specific technical fault that led to the incident remains unclear and is the subject of the ongoing investigation.
Key Details of the Incident:
- Aircraft Type: Fokker 50
- Operator: Starsky Aviation
- Departure: Aden Adde International Airport, Mogadishu
- Destination: Galkayo
- Occupants: 55 (passengers and crew)
- Incident: Runway overrun and crash-landing in shallow water
- Outcome: All occupants safe, no injuries or fatalities reported
- Response: Swift deployment of emergency responders
The incident highlights the critical role of pilot training and quick thinking in managing unexpected emergencies. While the cause is still under investigation, the successful evacuation of all individuals underscores the effectiveness of emergency protocols and the bravery of the flight crew.
