Passenger Plane Makes Miracle Emergency Water Landing In Somalia, All 55 Survive

by Stefan J. Bos, Worthy News Chief International Correspondent

MOGADISHU (Worthy News) – A passenger aircraft carrying 55 people made an emergency landing in shallow water near the main airport in Somalia’s capital, Mogadishu, on Tuesday after suffering technical problems shortly after takeoff, but all aboard miraculously survived without serious injuries, authorities said.

Officials credited the pilot’s skill for helping avert a tragedy and enabling all 50 passengers and five crew members to safely abandon the plane.

The aircraft, a Fokker 50 operated by Somali carrier Starsky Aviation, experienced mechanical difficulties moments after departing from Aden Adde International Airport, Somalia’s Civil Aviation Authority confirmed.

Despite what witnesses described as a hard landing, the turboprop aircraft did not come to rest on the runway but overshot and ended up in shallow waters of the adjacent Indian Ocean, where it stopped.

PILOT PRAISED FOR CALM RESPONSE

Starsky Aviation said the pilot requested permission to return shortly after takeoff when technical issues became apparent. While the exact nature of the malfunction was not immediately disclosed, authorities said an investigation is underway.

“The quick and calm decision-making of the pilot played a decisive role in ensuring the safety of everyone on board,” a company spokesperson said. The airline said the pilot’s actions were crucial in preventing casualties.

Footage seen by Worthy News showed passengers relatively calmly evacuating the aircraft as bystanders rushed toward the scene to assist. “Thanks God, it wasn’t more serious”, a witness could be heard saying.

Emergency crews later secured the site as officials began assessing the aircraft and reviewing flight data.

SOMALIA’S AVIATION SECTOR FACES CHALLENGES

Somalia’s aviation sector has faced significant challenges over decades of conflict, limited infrastructure, and regulatory weaknesses. Oversight has improved in recent years with international support, but incidents have continued to occur.

One of the most notable aviation-related attacks was the February 2016 bombing of Daallo Airlines Flight 159. A laptop bomb exploded shortly after takeoff from Mogadishu’s Aden Adde International Airport, forcing the Airbus A321 to return and make an emergency landing.

The only fatality was the bomber himself, who was blown out of the aircraft. The al-Qaeda-linked Islamist group al-Shabaab, designated as a terrorist organization by the United States and the European Union, later claimed responsibility.

Smaller crashes involving domestic carriers have also occurred in recent years, often linked to aging aircraft and difficult operating conditions. In May 2020, a small charter plane crashed in Somalia’s Bay region, killing all six people on board, including humanitarian workers.

Despite those challenges, Tuesday’s emergency landing ended without fatalities — an outcome authorities and airline officials attributed largely to the pilot’s rapid and composed response.

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