A passenger plane carrying 55 people crash-landed in shallow water near Mogadishu's Aden Adde International Airport on Tuesday after the pilot reported a technical problem shortly after takeoff.
The Fokker 50 aircraft, operated by Starsky Aviation, was en route to the northern city of Gaalkacyo when the crew requested to return to the airport. The pilot attempted to land but overshot the runway, coming to rest in the sea near the shoreline.
All passengers and crew survived the incident and were taken to hospital for medical evaluation. Social media images showed passengers walking away from the wreckage.
Starsky Aviation chief executive Ahmed Nur confirmed the runway overrun, while spokesperson Hassan Mohamed Aden praised the pilot's swift decision-making. 'The pilot's swift and calm decision-making played a decisive role in ensuring the safety of everyone on board,' he said.
The African Union mission in Somalia reported that emergency responders, including UNSOS and AUSSOM troops, were swiftly deployed to assist with rescue efforts. The Somali Civil Aviation Authority is investigating the cause of the technical issue.
