A Somali pilot is being hailed as a national hero after successfully crash-landing a faulty passenger aircraft on the shoreline beside Mogadishu’s international airport, saving the lives of all 55 people on board in a dramatic aviation emergency that could have ended in tragedy.
The aircraft, a Fokker 50 operated by Starsky Aviation, was en route to Puntland when it developed a serious technical fault shortly after take-off from Mogadishu on Tuesday morning. The pilot immediately requested clearance to return to the capital’s airport after detecting the malfunction, according to Somalia’s Civil Aviation Authority (CAA).
Although the plane managed to touch down on the runway, it failed to stop, overshot the tarmac, and continued forward until it came to rest in shallow waters along the Indian Ocean shoreline, just meters from the airport perimeter.
Despite the terrifying circumstances, all 50 passengers and five crew members survived, with no serious injuries reported — a result widely credited to the pilot’s calm judgment, skill, and rapid decision-making.
Starsky Aviation publicly praised the pilot, describing his actions as decisive and lifesaving.
“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,” said Starsky Aviation spokesperson Hassan Mohamed Aden.
Somalia’s Civil Aviation Authority confirmed that the crew had reported a technical problem shortly after takeoff and followed emergency procedures by requesting an immediate return to Mogadishu.
Footage circulating on social media platform X showed passengers walking away from the partially submerged aircraft, climbing down safely onto the shoreline as waves washed around the plane’s wings — a powerful image that has since gone viral across the region.
The African Union Mission in Somalia confirmed that UN and AU troops were swiftly deployed to assist rescue operations, while Somalia’s transport minister personally visited the scene as emergency teams secured the area.
“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 Aviation added.
A formal investigation has now been launched to determine the exact cause of the mechanical failure.
Mogadishu’s Aden Adde International Airport, located directly beside the Indian Ocean, made the seashore landing possible — a geographical reality that transformed a potential disaster into a miracle survival story.
Across Somalia and beyond, the incident has sparked widespread praise for the unnamed pilot, with many calling his actions an example of professionalism, courage, and leadership under pressure.
In a region where aviation infrastructure faces complex challenges, this near-tragedy has become a powerful reminder that human skill and calm leadership can make the difference between disaster and survival.
For the 55 people who walked away from the wreckage, it was not just an emergency landing —
it was a second chance at life.
