On the morning of February 10, 2026, what began as a routine domestic flight from Mogadishu’s Aden Abdulle International Airport quickly turned into a dramatic ordeal that tested the nerves and skill of everyone on board. A Starsky Aviation Fokker 50 aircraft, carrying 50 passengers and five crew members, suffered a technical malfunction shortly after takeoff, forcing the pilot to make a split-second decision that would ultimately save every life on board.
According to statements from Starsky Aviation and Somalia’s Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), the trouble started about 15 minutes after the plane left the runway, bound for the northern city of Gaalkacyo. The crew detected a technical problem—though, as of yet, officials have not specified the exact nature of the fault. The pilot immediately requested permission to return to Mogadishu, setting in motion a tense emergency landing sequence that would soon capture headlines across the world.
As the plane approached the airport, the situation was anything but routine. The aircraft touched down but was unable to stop on the runway, instead overshooting the tarmac and skidding onto the sandy shoreline at the edge of the Indian Ocean. In a matter of seconds, the Fokker 50 came to rest in shallow water, its right wing broken and its fuselage partially submerged, as shown in dramatic images shared by the BBC and other outlets. Rescue workers rushed to the scene, wading through the surf to reach the battered plane.
Remarkably, there were no injuries or fatalities. All 55 people aboard—passengers and crew alike—were safely evacuated from the aircraft. As Starsky Aviation CEO Ahmed Nur put it in a statement, “No injuries, no deaths.” This sentiment was echoed by Somalia’s Transportation Minister Mohamed Farah Nuh, who confirmed that the rescue team accounted for everyone and that “only the aircraft was damaged.”
The pilot’s actions have drawn widespread praise, both from the airline and from aviation officials. In a statement reported by the BBC, Starsky Aviation spokesman Hassan Mohamed Aden said, “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.” The airline credited the crew’s quick thinking as crucial to the successful outcome, emphasizing that the emergency landing could have ended very differently under less capable hands.
Ahmed Moalim, director of Somalia’s Civil Aviation Authority, recounted the sequence of events for local media: “The flight was bound for the northern city of Gaalkacyo when it developed a problem about 15 minutes after takeoff.” He explained that during the attempted landing, “the aircraft veered off the runway and ended up at the shoreline.”
For those familiar with aviation incidents in the region, the outcome was nothing short of astonishing. In a story that initially caused confusion and alarm, some early reports—such as those from GB News—suggested that only two survivors had been found. However, these reports were quickly corrected as the full scale of the successful rescue became clear. The fact that every single person on board survived without even minor injuries has been described as “astonishing” by several outlets, given the dramatic images of the aircraft resting in the surf with visible structural damage.
The incident has also prompted a thorough investigation. Both airline officials and government authorities have committed to uncovering the root cause of the technical fault that led to the emergency. As Starsky Aviation’s spokesman put it, “We are relieved to confirm that all passengers and crew are safe. Investigations are under way to establish what caused the technical issue that led to the emergency landing.” The Civil Aviation Authority has echoed this, with Transportation Minister Mohamed Farah Nuh promising that the cause would be “fully investigated.”
While the investigation proceeds, the focus has shifted to the professionalism of the crew and the effectiveness of the emergency response. The evacuation was completed swiftly, with rescue teams quickly reaching the stranded aircraft. Photographs from the scene show rescue workers alongside the plane, some wading through knee-deep water as they assist passengers to safety. The images, widely circulated by BBC News Africa and others, have become a symbol of the day’s unlikely triumph over disaster.
The Fokker 50 itself, a workhorse of regional aviation, was left with significant damage—its right wing broken and its fuselage battered by waves. But, as Ahmed Nur emphasized, “only the aircraft was damaged,” a small price to pay given the potential for tragedy. For many Somalis, the incident has also highlighted the importance of ongoing investments in aviation safety and infrastructure, especially as air travel continues to grow across the region.
Despite the dramatic circumstances, the incident at Mogadishu’s Aden Abdulle International Airport stands out as a rare example of a crisis averted through skill, preparation, and a bit of luck. The pilot’s actions, in particular, have been lauded as textbook examples of calm under pressure. As one observer put it, “The pilot’s quick thinking was crucial in saving the 50 passengers and five crew.”
In the aftermath, the airline, government officials, and the public have all expressed relief and gratitude. The successful outcome has also served as a reminder of the unpredictable nature of air travel, and the vital role that training and emergency protocols play in keeping passengers safe—even when the unexpected strikes.
For now, the investigation continues, with both Starsky Aviation and Somalia’s Civil Aviation Authority vowing to uncover the technical cause behind the emergency. In the meantime, the passengers and crew who walked away from the waterlogged wreckage can count themselves among the lucky few to have experienced—and survived—a true aviation emergency. Their story, and the pilot’s decisive actions, are sure to be remembered for years to come.