In brief
A passenger plane operated by Starsky Aviation experienced technical issues shortly after takeoff from Mogadishu, prompting the pilot to request a return. The Fokker 50 ultimately crash-landed on the shore, resulting in no serious injuries to the 50 passengers and 5 crew members. Authorities are investigating the cause of the failure, and the pilot's actions have been praised for safely managing the emergency.
In a remarkable display of pilot skill, a Somali airline pilot managed to crash-land his passenger plane along the shoreline next to Mogadishu's international airport after detecting a technical fault shortly after takeoff. All 55 individuals on board, including 50 passengers and 5 crew members, were reported safe.The aircraft, identified as a Fokker 50 and operated by Starsky Aviation, encountered problems just after departing from Mogadishu. The crew promptly requested a return, which the Civil Aviation Authority confirmed. The plane ultimately overshot the runway, landing softly in shallow waters, where it came to a stop.No serious injuries were reported, and video footage shared online displayed passengers calmly disembarking from the aircraft and moving away from the wreckage.In response to the incident, the African Union's mission in Somalia mobilized UN and AU troops to assist with the rescue efforts, with the Somali transport minister also attending the scene. Starsky Aviation spokesperson Hassan Mohamed Aden expressed relief at the safe outcome, highlighting the pilot's effective decision-making under pressure. Investigations are ongoing to pinpoint the technical fault that necessitated the emergency landing.
