Somalia runway scare: 55 people escape safely as plane slides into Indian Ocean | Watch

The plane, carrying 50 passengers bound for Guriel and Galkaayo, developed mechanical problems about 15 minutes into the flight and attempted to return to Mogadishu, where it crash-landed into the sea.

• Plane made emergency landing on Mogadishu shore, no injuries reported
• Pilot praised for calm actions; all 55 onboard safe after technical fault
• Investigation underway to determine cause of emergency landing

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A passenger aircraft with up to 50 passengers and five crew members on board ran off the runway at Somalia’s main airport on Tuesday, landing on the adjacent shoreline during an emergency return caused by a technical issue shortly after departure.

The plane, carrying 50 passengers bound for Guriel and Galkaayo, developed mechanical problems about 15 minutes into the flight and attempted to return to Mogadishu, where it crash-landed into the sea.

The airline in Somalia has praised the “swift and calm” actions of one of its pilots after a passenger aircraft with 55 people on board made an emergency landing on the shoreline near Mogadishu’s international airport, with no loss of life.

During the landing attempt, the aircraft touched down but failed to stop on the runway, overshooting the tarmac and coming to rest in shallow water along the Indian Ocean shoreline, CAA director Ahmed Macalin Hassan said.

Footage shared on social media showed passengers exiting the aircraft and walking away from the wreckage on the beach. No serious injuries were reported among the 50 passengers and five crew members.

The African Union’s mission in Somalia said UN and AU troops were “swiftly deployed” to assist with rescue operations, while Somalia’s transport minister also visited the site.

Today, a passenger aircraft operated by Starsky Aviation Ltd was involved in an incident near Aden Adde International Airport shortly after take-off. The plane, carrying 50 passengers bound for Guriel and Galkaayo, developed mechanical problems about 15 minutes into the flight… pic.twitter.com/9MaUeJ5UWw

— AUSSOM (@aussom_) February 10, 2026

A StarSky Fokker 50 crashes shortly after departure from Mogadishu Aden Adde International Airport, Somalia. According to local reports all passengers have safely evacuated. pic.twitter.com/pYULsbv2Rm — Breaking Aviation News & Videos (@aviationbrk) February 10, 2026

Starsky Aviation applauded the pilot’s presence of mind for the safe outcome.

“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 spokesperson Hassan Mohamed Aden said to BBC.

“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.” Authorities said a detailed investigation is under way to determine the cause of the technical fault that led to the dramatic emergency landing.

The aircraft, a Fokker 50 operated by Starsky Aviation, developed a technical fault shortly after taking off from Aden Abdulle International Airport on Tuesday. The plane was en route to the northern city of Gaalkacyo when the crew requested permission to return to Mogadishu around 15 minutes after departure, Somalia’s Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) said.

*With Agency Inputs