MOGADISHU, Somalia — Somalia’s Civil Aviation Authority has suspended several aircraft after inspections uncovered technical faults and non-compliance with international safety standards, escalating scrutiny of the country’s fast-growing aviation market following a Feb. 10 incident that stoked public concern.
The regulator said the suspensions aim to strengthen flight safety oversight and restore passenger confidence after a Starsky Aviation plane experienced a technical malfunction shortly after takeoff from Mogadishu’s Aden Adde International Airport. The aircraft reportedly overshot the runway upon its return and came to rest near the Indian Ocean shoreline. All 55 passengers and crew survived.
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The authority said some aircraft failed to meet requirements set by the International Civil Aviation Organization. It did not specify how many aircraft were grounded or which operators were affected, but signaled the clampdown would be comprehensive and sustained.
The SCAA said it is tightening enforcement amid growing regional economic integration, with closer checks to ensure compliance that go beyond airworthiness to the conditions passengers face onboard. The regulator signaled new scrutiny will extend to:
- Cabin configurations and seat layouts
- Seat dimensions and usable legroom
- Service quality and consistency
- Rating and audit procedures
Officials framed the moves as part of a wider push to protect passenger rights and align the sector more closely with international norms. The decision comes as travelers on the busy Mogadishu–Nairobi corridor complain of high fares and cramped cabins. A typical round-trip ticket on the roughly 90-minute route costs between $400 and $450, while some carriers are deploying smaller aircraft with tightly spaced seating that limits shoulder and legroom.
Somalia’s air market has expanded in recent years alongside political stabilization and gradual reintegration into regional trade. More routes and carriers have connected Mogadishu to neighbors and hubs, drawing returning diaspora and business travelers. But the latest enforcement action underscores persistent challenges in safety oversight, competitive pressure and consumer protection as operators scale up capacity.
While the SCAA did not detail the timeline for returning grounded aircraft to service, the regulator’s posture suggests a “safety first” approach—prioritizing corrective maintenance, documentation and compliance reviews before lifting restrictions. Airlines affected by the suspensions are expected to address flagged findings, submit to re-inspection and demonstrate adherence to ICAO standards as a prerequisite for reinstatement.
The Feb. 10 incident sharpened public attention on maintenance practices and regulatory compliance, even as the absence of fatalities offered a measure of reassurance. Aviation analysts say near-miss events often catalyze overdue safety upgrades, particularly in markets experiencing fast growth where regulatory capacity may be catching up with operational expansion.
For passengers, the regulator’s focus on cabin standards is likely to resonate as strongly as its technical inspections. Complaints about tight seating and service gaps on short-haul regional routes have built in tandem with fare increases, leaving travelers seeking better value and clearer accountability when things go wrong.
By moving swiftly to ground aircraft that do not meet international benchmarks—and by widening the scope of what “safety” entails—the SCAA is signaling a more assertive phase of oversight. The balance it must now strike is between ensuring rigorous standards and maintaining enough capacity to meet rising demand without pushing fares even higher.
Further details on the number of aircraft affected, the operators involved, and the timeline for corrective action were not immediately available from the regulator.
By Ali Musa
Axadle Times international–Monitoring.
