Narrow Escape in Somalia: All Aboard Safe After Fokker 50 Overruns Runway into the Sea

MOGADISHU, Somalia — All 55 passengers and crew aboard a StarSky Fokker 50 were reported safe Tuesday after the aircraft overran the runway at Mogadishu’s Aden Adde International Airport and tumbled onto the shoreline during an emergency landing, authorities said.

The twin-engine turboprop had departed Mogadishu on a scheduled flight to Galkayo when it experienced technical difficulties shortly after takeoff, according to airport officials. Air traffic controllers cleared the crew to return for an emergency landing. During touchdown, the aircraft veered off the runway, went over a cliff and came to rest on the beach just outside the airport’s perimeter fence.

“Rescue teams quickly attended the scene, and all passengers and crew were evacuated without serious injuries,” an airport official told Reuters. Images from the scene showed the fuselage intact on the sand with emergency personnel nearby.

Airport authorities said flight operations were briefly disrupted as fire and rescue crews secured the site and assessed the aircraft for fuel leaks or other hazards. Services later resumed with heightened caution for movements near the affected area.

An investigation has been opened to determine what caused the runway overrun following the reported in-flight technical issue. Officials did not immediately disclose details about the nature of the problem or weather conditions at the time of the landing. The carrier, StarSky, did not provide an immediate comment.

Runway excursions—when an aircraft departs the runway during takeoff or landing—are among the most common categories of aviation incidents. While many are survivable, aviation authorities typically examine factors such as aircraft performance, approach speed, runway condition, braking effectiveness and crew decision-making, in addition to any mechanical faults. The inquiry at Aden Adde is expected to focus on the sequence from the aircraft’s initial return to the airport through its final rollout.

Passengers were taken to the terminal for medical checks as a precaution. No serious injuries were reported, officials said. The aircraft remained under guard at the shoreline pending a technical assessment and recovery plan.

What we know

• The incident occurred Tuesday during an emergency landing at Mogadishu’s Aden Adde International Airport.
• All 55 people on board were evacuated without serious injuries, according to airport officials.
• The aircraft was a Fokker 50 operated by local carrier StarSky on a scheduled flight to Galkayo.
• Officials said the plane reported technical difficulties shortly after departure and was cleared to return.
• During landing, the aircraft veered off the runway, went over a cliff and came to rest on the beach outside the airport fence.
• Flight operations were briefly affected as emergency services secured the area.
• An investigation is underway to determine the cause of the overrun.

As investigators gather data from the crew, air traffic control recordings and the aircraft’s maintenance records, airport operations have largely returned to normal. The focus now turns to understanding the chain of events that turned a routine return to field into a dramatic but nonfatal runway excursion on Mogadishu’s seafront.

By Ali Musa
Axadle Times international–Monitoring.