A passenger aircraft operated by Starsky Aviation crash-landed near Mogadishu’s Aden Abdulle International Airport on Tuesday after experiencing a mechanical problem shortly after takeoff. The aircraft, carrying 55 people 50 passengers and five crew members was bound for the northern city of Gaalkacyo when the incident occurred.
According to Somali authorities, the plane developed a technical fault around 15 minutes into the flight. The pilot requested permission to return to the airport and attempted an emergency landing, but the aircraft overran the runway and ended up in the shallow waters of the Indian Ocean near the airport’s shoreline.
Rescue teams responded quickly. All 55 people on board were safely evacuated, and there were no reported injuries or fatalities. Transportation Minister Mohamed Farah Nuh confirmed that everyone was accounted for, though the aircraft sustained damage.
Starsky Aviation officials praised the pilot’s quick thinking and calm response, saying that the emergency action likely prevented a far worse outcome. Images and footage from the scene showed passengers walking away from the plane on the beach, with emergency crews standing by.
The aircraft involved was a Fokker 50 turboprop, a model commonly used on regional flights. Somali Civil Aviation Authority representatives and airline officials said a full investigation is under way to determine the exact cause of the technical issue that prompted the emergency landing.
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The successful evacuation marks a rare aviation event in a region where safety infrastructure is still developing. Aviation watchers noted that while runway excursions and emergency landings are always serious, the outcome in Mogadishu was unusually positive given the circumstances and potential for harm.
