The plane left the airport and crashed shortly after on the shoreline of the Indian Ocean
A plane has crashed in shallow water shortly after departing from an airport in Somalia.
The aircraft, which belongs to the local airline StarSky, left Aden Adde International Airport and went down on the shoreline of the Indian Ocean in an area not far from the airport perimeter. The flight had taken off from Runway 23 and reportedly encountered technical difficulties as the plane attempted to gain altitude.
Witnesses near the Jasiira beach spotted the plane flying unusually low before it skipped across the shallow water and landed on the shoreline, AirLive reports. Photos from the scene appeared to show the plane’s wing completely detached as onlookers gathered around to watch.
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.
Rescue crews were said to have attended the scene of the wreckage within minutes. “The priority was ensuring there was no post-impact fire, given the proximity to the water,” an airport official said. “We are relieved to report that everyone on board was evacuated safely.”
The Somali Civil Aviation Authority (SCAA) confirmed the crash occurred in a coastal area just outside the airport’s western perimeter, adding all crew members and 55 passengers had survived the incident. It has since launched a formal investigation into the cause of the crash.
The airport was closed for a short while to allow emergency services to reach the shoreline, but it has since resumed its usual operations.
