Pilot Praised After Forced Landing Puts StarSky Aviation Fokker 50 In Shallow Coastal Waters

StarSky Aviation has commended the flight crew of a Fokker 50 after the aircraft conducted a forced landing along the Mogadishu coastline following a reported technical malfunction shortly after departure. All 55 people on board, 50 passengers and five crew members survived the incident without injuries.

The aircraft, a Fokker 50 registered 6O‑YAS, had taken off from Aden Adde International Airport on a scheduled flight to Djibouti when the crew encountered a technical issue during initial climb. According to preliminary information, the pilots attempted to return to the airport but were unable to maintain a stable landing roll, resulting in a runway excursion that carried the aircraft off the paved surface and into shallow coastal waters.

StarSky Aviation stated that the captain’s prompt assessment and aircraft handling were critical in maintaining control during the forced landing. The airline noted that the crew’s actions helped prevent structural breakup and allowed the aircraft to come to rest in a relatively stable position along the shoreline.

Images circulating online show the turboprop partially submerged near the beach, with emergency responders and local authorities present at the scene. Despite the dramatic appearance of the aircraft, officials confirmed that no injuries occurred.

A formal investigation is expected to review the technical malfunction, the aircraft’s performance during the attempted return, and the sequence of events that led to the excursion and coastal landing. Investigators will also examine crew decision‑making, aircraft systems, and environmental conditions at the time of the incident.