In Somalia, due respect was paid to the pilot of Starsky Aviation, who managed to save 55 people in a critical situation by landing a damaged plane on the shore near Mogadishu Airport, as reported by Kazinform citing the BBC.
There were 50 passengers and 5 crew members on board, and all of them remained unharmed.
Starsky Aviation noted that it was the pilot's quick reaction and composure that helped avoid a tragedy.
According to the Somali Civil Aviation Authority, shortly after takeoff from Mogadishu on Tuesday morning, the crew of the Fokker 50 aircraft discovered a technical malfunction and requested an emergency return. As reported by the head of the agency, Ahmed Makalin Hasan, during landing, the plane was unable to stop on the runway, rolled off the edge, and came to a stop on the shore of the Indian Ocean.
Videos from social media show people leaving the plane on their own and making their way to the shore through the water. The rescue operation involved medics, the UN, and the African Union mission. Preliminary data indicates that no one sustained serious injuries.
“We confirm that all passengers and crew members are safe. An investigation is underway to determine the cause of the technical malfunction that led to the emergency landing,” said airline representative Hasan Mohamed Aden.
