A StarSky Aviation Fokker 50 crashed on the shoreline of the Indian Ocean early Tuesday afternoon shortly after departing from Aden Adde International Airport (MGQ).
The Somali Civil Aviation Authority (SCAA) confirmed that the aircraft went down in a coastal area just outside the airport’s western perimeter.
Despite the dramatic nature of the crash, emergency responders have confirmed that all crew members and 55 passengers survived the incident.
The flight had just taken off and was reportedly gaining altitude when it encountered unspecified technical difficulties.
Airport officials said the aircraft attempted to return to Mogadishu but veered off the runway during the landing process. The right wing has detached the fuselage.
Eyewitnesses near the Jasiira beach area described seeing the plane flying unusually low before it skipped across the shallow water and came to a halt on the sandy shoreline.
Airport fire services and security forces reached the wreckage within minutes. “The priority was ensuring there was no post-impact fire, given the proximity to the water,” said an airport official. “We are relieved to report that everyone on board was evacuated safely.”
The SCAA has launched a formal investigation into the cause of the crash. While initial speculation points toward engine failure, investigators are currently retrieving the flight data recorders to determine the exact sequence of events.
The airport was briefly closed to allow emergency vehicles access to the shoreline, but has since resumed limited operations.
