A passenger aircraft operated by Starsky Airline crashed on Tuesday at Mogadishu’s Aden Adde International Airport shortly after takeoff, but all passengers and crew survived, Somali aviation officials said.

The Somali Civil Aviation Authority confirmed that everyone on board was safely evacuated and that no fatalities were reported. The plane had been en route to Galkayo when it experienced a technical malfunction immediately after takeoff, forcing the pilot to attempt an emergency return to the capital.

“The pilot tried to land the aircraft back in Mogadishu, but after touchdown he was unable to maintain control,” said Ahmed Moalim Hassan, director general of the Somali Civil Aviation Authority. “The aircraft overshot the runway and came close to the shoreline. There were no casualties.”

Initial reports indicated that about 50 passengers were on board. Emergency rescue teams were deployed immediately and evacuated passengers and crew from the aircraft.

Aviation officials said an investigation has been launched to determine the exact cause of the crash.

The incident comes amid renewed scrutiny of aviation safety at Aden Adde Airport. In April last year, a United Nations-chartered aircraft made a belly landing at the same airport after its landing gear failed to deploy.

Source: Hiiraan News