All passengers and crew survived after a Starsky airline aircraft crashed along the Indian Ocean shoreline near Mogadishu airport on Tuesday following technical difficulties that forced the pilot to attempt an emergency return.
The Somali Civil Aviation Authority confirmed the 55 people on board were safely evacuated after the plane veered off the runway and came down just outside Aden Adde International Airport’s western perimeter approximately 15 minutes into the flight.
Director of the SCAA, Ahmed Moallim Hassan, told State media Somali National Television that the aircraft experienced technical difficulties shortly after takeoff. The pilot made the decision to return to the airport but was unable to control the plane, causing it to veer off the runway before crashing in the coastal area.
The flight had departed on Tuesday 10 February bound for Guriel, the second-largest city in the central Galguduud region of Somalia located in Galmudug state. The technical issues emerged within minutes of becoming airborne from Aden Adde International Airport.
Footage from the scene showed several people including uniformed personnel and civilians gathered around the aircraft near an open exit door, with others walking away from the crash site. The plane came to rest along the Indian Ocean shoreline in close proximity to the airport’s perimeter wall.
An airport official stated the priority was ensuring no post-impact fire occurred given the proximity to water. “We are relieved to report that everyone on board was evacuated safely,” the official confirmed.
Emergency services reached the shoreline crash site after Aden Adde Airport was temporarily closed to facilitate the response. The airport has since resumed normal operations following the evacuation and initial emergency procedures.
The SCAA has launched a formal investigation into the cause of the crash. Investigators will examine the technical difficulties that prompted the pilot’s decision to return, the loss of control during the approach, and why the aircraft veered off the runway.
Starsky operates as one of Somalia’s leading airlines and tourism companies, offering full-service travel to business and leisure clients. The carrier’s safety record and maintenance procedures will likely form part of the investigation into Tuesday’s incident.
All crew members and 55 passengers survived the crash, with evacuation procedures successfully completed before any fire could develop. The swift emergency response and the aircraft’s position near water appear to have contributed to the successful outcome despite the loss of control.
Investigators will analyze flight data, conduct mechanical inspections of the aircraft, and interview the flight crew to determine the precise sequence of events that led to the technical failure and subsequent crash. The findings will inform safety recommendations for Starsky and other carriers operating from Aden Adde International Airport.
