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 said the pilot's quick thinking was crucial in saving the 50 passengers and five crew.
The crew of the aircraft, a Fokker 50, reported a problem shortly after take off from Mogadishu on Tuesday morning and requested that the plane return, Somalia's Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) said.
It then touched down but failed to stop on the runway, overshooting the tarmac before coming to rest in shallow water, the CAA's director Ahmed Macalin Hassan said.
Aussom A crashed plane on the seashore is leaning over with its right wing broken. Rescue workers are close to the body of the plane and a man in a grey suit is wading through the water towards the camera.Aussom
The plane was on its way to Puntland before the pilot requested a return to Mogadishu
It is not clear yet exactly what the issue was.
Footage posted on X appeared to show passengers leaving the aircraft and walking away from the wreckage on the shore of the Indian Ocean. No serious injuries have been reported.
The African Union's mission in Somalia said UN and AU troops were "swiftly deployed" to help with rescue efforts. Somalia's transport minister was also at the scene, its post on X added.
"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," Starsky 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," he added.
Starsky Aviation A damaged aircraft rests partly submerged on a shallow shoreline, with waves washing against its wing as it lies in clear, shallow water under a bright blue sky.Starsky Aviation
Starsky Aviation A damaged aircraft rests partly submerged on a shallow shoreline, with waves washing against its wing as it lies in clear, shallow water under a bright blue sky.Starsky Aviation
Mogadishu's international airport is right next to the Indian Ocean
BBC