MOGADISHU, Somalia — A passenger plane carrying 55 people veered off the runway at Mogadishu’s Aden Abdulle International Airport on Tuesday, ending up on the shoreline in shallow water after an emergency landing.
The Incident
- The pilot reported a technical problem about 15 minutes after take‑off and requested permission to return.
- During landing, the aircraft overran the runway and came to rest in the Indian Ocean.
- The Fokker 50 sustained damage to its wing and nose, but no injuries were reported.
Images shared online showed passengers calmly walking away from the wreckage.
Response and Praise
Starsky Aviation CEO Ahmed Nur praised the crew’s professionalism: “They managed it well, communicated with the tower, and landed on runway two three.”
Somalia’s Transportation Minister Mohamed Farah Nuh confirmed that only the aircraft was damaged and announced an investigation into the cause.
Emergency responders, supported by African Union and UN troops, were quickly deployed to assist passengers and secure the site.
Outlook
The pilot’s swift decision‑making and the coordinated emergency response prevented what could have been a major tragedy. Authorities will now focus on uncovering the technical fault that forced the crash‑landing, while passengers and crew are being hailed for their composure during the ordeal.