Pilot hailed after crash-landing malfunctioning Somali passenger plane on beach

All 55 survive after Somali passenger plane overruns runway, crash-lands on Mogadishu shoreline

MOGADISHU, Somalia — An airliner carrying 55 people crash-landed on the shoreline beside Mogadishu’s international airport after overrunning the runway Tuesday, with all passengers and crew surviving, authorities and the carrier said.

Starsky Aviation said a technical issue emerged shortly after the Fokker 50 turboprop departed Mogadishu for Puntland State. The crew requested an immediate return, but the aircraft failed to stop after touching down and came to rest in shallow surf along the Indian Ocean, according to Somalia’s Civil Aviation Authority (CAA).

• All 55 on board — 50 passengers and five crew — survived; no serious injuries reported
• Starsky Aviation Fokker 50 experienced a technical problem shortly after takeoff
• Aircraft overran the runway at Mogadishu’s international airport and stopped in shallow water
• AU and UN troops deployed quickly to support rescue efforts; Somalia’s transport minister visited the site
• Official investigation under way; airline credits pilot’s “swift and calm” response

“We are relieved to confirm that all passengers and crew are safe. Investigations are under way to establish what caused the technical issue that led to the emergency landing,” Starsky spokesman Hassan Mohamed Aden said.

“The pilot’s swift and calm decision-making played a decisive role in ensuring the safety of everyone on board, and we commend him for how he handled the situation,” he added.

The CAA said the crew reported a problem shortly after takeoff on Tuesday morning and obtained clearance to return to the capital. After touching down, the aircraft overshot the tarmac and came to rest off the end of the runway, CAA Director Ahmed Macalin Hassan said. The specific nature of the malfunction has not been disclosed.

Footage posted on X appeared to show passengers disembarking onto the shoreline and walking away from the wreckage as waves lapped at the fuselage. The aircraft came down adjacent to the airport perimeter, helping speed the response by emergency services.

The African Union’s mission in Somalia said UN and AU personnel were swiftly deployed to support the rescue. Somalia’s transport minister also visited the site, the mission said in a post on X.

Starsky Aviation, which operates domestic routes within Somalia, praised the captain and crew and said it is cooperating fully with regulators. The airline did not provide additional details about the aircraft’s condition. Photos and video from the scene showed significant damage consistent with a runway overrun and water impact.

Runway overruns are often linked to a combination of factors that can include system malfunctions, runway surface conditions, approach speed, or braking performance. Somalia’s aviation authorities urged patience as investigators gather flight data, interview crew and witnesses, and assess the wreckage. Officials did not say when preliminary findings would be released.

The incident temporarily disrupted operations at Mogadishu’s international airport as emergency crews worked along the shoreline. Authorities did not immediately provide details about broader flight delays or cancellations.

Tuesday’s safe evacuation will focus attention on emergency preparedness at the airport and within Somalia’s domestic aviation sector, where rapid response and coordination can be decisive. The airline emphasized that it would review its internal procedures while awaiting official conclusions from the CAA.

For passengers, the harrowing landing ended in relief. Video from the coast showed people wading to safety as security forces and first responders converged. By late Tuesday, no severe injuries had been reported.

By Ali Musa

Axadle Times international–Monitoring.