A Fokker 50 passenger aircraft operated by Starsky Aviation performed a miraculous emergency landing on Tuesday morning, coming to a halt in the shallow waters of the Indian Ocean near Mogadishu.

Despite the dramatic crash-landing, all 50 passengers and five crew members survived the ordeal without serious injury.   

According to Somalia’s Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), the flight had just departed Mogadishu’s main international airport when the crew detected a mechanical issue.

CAA Director Ahmed Macalin Hassan told BBC that the pilots immediately requested an emergency return.

While the aircraft successfully touched down, it was unable to stop within the runway’s distance, overshot the tarmac, and settled along the shoreline.   

Starsky Aviation has hailed the pilot as a hero for his composure under extreme pressure.   

“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 spokesman Hassan Mohamed Aden. “We are relieved to confirm that all passengers and crew are safe.”   

Footage shared on social media showed a remarkably orderly scene, with passengers exiting the wreckage and walking through knee-deep water toward the beach.

Response teams from the United Nations and the African Union mission in Somalia were quickly deployed to the site to assist with rescue operations. Somalia’s transport minister also visited the scene to oversee the response.   

While the exact nature of the mechanical failure remains unknown, the CAA has launched a formal investigation into the technical fault. 

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