The pilot of a Somali passenger plane has been praised after safely crash-landing on the shoreline near the capital’s international airport, with all 55 people on board surviving. Starsky Aviation said the pilot’s quick response was critical in ensuring the safety of the 50 passengers and five crew members aboard the Fokker 50 aircraft.
The plane had taken off from Mogadishu on Tuesday morning bound for Puntland when the crew reported a technical problem shortly after departure and requested to return, according to the Somalia Civil Aviation Authority (CAA).
The aircraft landed but failed to stop on the runway, overshooting the tarmac before coming to rest in shallow water along the coast, according to CAA Director, Ahmed Macalin Hassan. The cause of the malfunction was not immediately clear.
Video shared on social media appeared to show passengers exiting the aircraft and walking away from the wreckage on the shore of the Indian Ocean. No serious injuries were reported.
The African Union Mission in Somalia said United Nations and African Union troops were deployed to assist with rescue efforts. It is reported that Somalia’s transport minister also visited the scene.
Starsky Aviation spokesman Hassan Mohamed Aden said investigations were under way to determine the cause of the emergency landing.
“The pilot’s swift and calm decision making played a decisive role in ensuring the safety of everyone on board,” he said. (NewsWire)
