An airline in Somalia has praised one of its pilots after he crash-landed his passenger plane, which had suffered a technical fault, on the shoreline next to the capital's international airport with all 55 on board surviving.
Starsky Aviation stated that the pilot's quick thinking played a crucial role in saving the 50 passengers and five crew members aboard the Fokker 50 aircraft.
After reporting a problem shortly after takeoff from Mogadishu on Tuesday, the crew requested to return to the airport, according to Somalia's Civil Aviation Authority (CAA).
The plane then touched down but overshot the runway, coming to rest in shallow water. The incident's exact technical issue remains unclear at this time.
Footage from social media showed passengers leaving the aircraft safely, walking away from the wreckage on the shore of the Indian Ocean. Fortunately, no serious injuries have been reported.
In response, the African Union's mission in Somalia deployed UN and AU troops for rescue efforts, with Somalia's transport minister also present at the scene.
Confirming the successful outcome, Starsky spokesman Hassan Mohamed Aden expressed relief that all passengers and crew were safe, commending the pilot's swift and calm decision-making.
