An airline in Somalia has praised one of its pilots after he crash-landed his passenger plane, which had suffered a technical fault, on the shoreline next to the capital's international airport with all 55 on board surviving. Starsky Aviation said the pilot's quick thinking was crucial in saving the 50 passengers and five crew.
The crew of the aircraft, a Fokker 50, reported a problem shortly after takeoff from Mogadishu on Tuesday morning and requested that the plane return, according to Somalia's Civil Aviation Authority (CAA). It touched down but failed to stop on the runway, overshooting the tarmac before coming to rest in shallow water, CAA's director Ahmed Macalin Hassan reported.
Footage posted on X showed passengers leaving the aircraft and walking away from the wreckage on the shore of the Indian Ocean. No serious injuries were reported.
The African Union's mission in Somalia said UN and AU troops were swiftly deployed to assist with rescue efforts. Somalia's transport minister was also present at the scene.
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, said Starsky spokesman Hassan Mohamed Aden.
The pilot's swift and calm decision-making played a decisive role in ensuring the safety of everyone on board, and he was commended for how he handled the situation.
The crew of the aircraft, a Fokker 50, reported a problem shortly after takeoff from Mogadishu on Tuesday morning and requested that the plane return, according to Somalia's Civil Aviation Authority (CAA). It touched down but failed to stop on the runway, overshooting the tarmac before coming to rest in shallow water, CAA's director Ahmed Macalin Hassan reported.
Footage posted on X showed passengers leaving the aircraft and walking away from the wreckage on the shore of the Indian Ocean. No serious injuries were reported.
The African Union's mission in Somalia said UN and AU troops were swiftly deployed to assist with rescue efforts. Somalia's transport minister was also present at the scene.
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, said Starsky spokesman Hassan Mohamed Aden.
The pilot's swift and calm decision-making played a decisive role in ensuring the safety of everyone on board, and he was commended for how he handled the situation.
