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An airline in Somalia has praised one of its pilots after he safely crash-landed a passenger plane that developed a technical problem shortly after takeoff from Mogadishu. All 55 people on board — including 50 passengers and five crew members — survived the frightening incident.
The aircraft, a Fokker 50 operated by Starsky Aviation, took off from Aden Adde International Airport on Tuesday morning. Not long after departure, the crew detected a technical fault. Realizing the seriousness of the situation, they immediately contacted air traffic control and requested permission to return to the airport.
According to Somalia’s Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), the plane managed to land back at the airport. However, it was unable to stop in time on the runway. The aircraft overshot the tarmac and continued moving until it reached the shoreline, where it finally came to rest in shallow water near the Indian Ocean.
Despite the dramatic ending to the landing, there were no reported fatalities and no serious injuries. Videos shared on social media showed passengers calmly exiting the plane and walking away from the aircraft along the shore. Emergency responders quickly arrived at the scene to assist.
Starsky Aviation described the pilot’s actions as brave and decisive. The airline said his quick thinking and calm response under pressure played a major role in ensuring everyone’s safety. In a statement, the company expressed relief that all passengers and crew were safe and thanked the pilot for handling the emergency with professionalism.
Somalia’s Civil Aviation Authority confirmed that the crew had reported the technical issue soon after takeoff. However, officials have not yet revealed the exact cause of the problem. Investigations are now underway to determine what went wrong and why the plane was unable to stop on the runway after landing.
The African Union mission in Somalia said that United Nations and African Union personnel were quickly deployed to assist with rescue efforts. Somalia’s transport minister also visited the crash site to assess the situation and oversee the emergency response.
Incidents like this often highlight the importance of proper pilot training and emergency preparedness. Aviation experts say that pilots are trained to handle high-pressure situations and make split-second decisions that can save lives. In this case, the pilot’s ability to remain calm and act quickly appears to have prevented what could have been a far more tragic outcome.
Passengers who experienced the ordeal are said to be shaken but grateful to be alive. While crash landings are rare, aviation authorities treat such incidents with seriousness. A full technical review of the aircraft will likely be carried out, along with interviews with the crew, to establish what led to the malfunction.
For now, attention remains focused on the positive outcome — that every person on board survived. The airline has pledged to cooperate fully with investigators and ensure that any necessary measures are taken to prevent similar incidents in the future.
The event has also sparked conversations about aviation safety in Somalia, where air travel plays a vital role in connecting cities and supporting humanitarian efforts. As investigations continue, officials hope the findings will help strengthen safety standards and improve response systems.
What could have turned into a major tragedy instead ended with relief, thanks to the pilot’s steady leadership and coordinated emergency response efforts.