MOGADISHU: A pilot has been widely praised after safely bringing down a malfunctioning passenger aircraft that overran the runway and came to rest in shallow water near Aden Abdulle International Airport on Tuesday, with all 55 people on board surviving the incident.
The Fokker 50 aircraft, operated by Starsky Aviation, had departed from the Somali capital en route to the northern city of Gaalkacyo. Around 15 minutes into the flight, the crew reported a technical problem and requested permission to return, according to the Somalia Civil Aviation Authority.
Ahmed Macalin Hassan, director of the authority, said the pilot attempted to land after returning to Mogadishu. However, the aircraft failed to stop in time, overshot the runway and crossed beyond the tarmac before coming to a halt near the shoreline in shallow water.
Images circulating on social media showed passengers disembarking from the aircraft and walking away from the scene. Officials confirmed that all occupants were transported to a nearby hospital for medical evaluation as a precaution.
Starsky Aviation chief executive Ahmed Nur described the incident as a runway overrun, adding that there were no injuries or fatalities. In a statement, company spokesperson Hassan Mohamed Aden said investigations were underway to determine the cause of the technical fault that led to the emergency landing.
He commended the pilot’s handling of the situation, saying calm and timely decision-making had been critical in ensuring the safety of everyone on board.
The Civil Aviation Authority confirmed that the aircraft, registered as 60-YAS, was involved in a runway overrun at the airport. Authorities have launched an inquiry to establish the circumstances surrounding the malfunction.
