Somalia passenger flight ends in sea landing after mid-air fault

A passenger aircraft carrying 55 people was forced into an emergency water landing off Mogadishu after a technical malfunction shortly after takeoff.

The Starsky Aviation flight had departed Aden Abdulle International Airport bound for Gaalkacyo but turned back around 15 minutes into the journey when problems were detected.

During the attempted emergency landing, the plane overshot the runway and came to rest in the ocean near the shoreline.

All 50 passengers and five crew members evacuated safely with no reported injuries, and were taken for medical checks.

Somali aviation authorities confirmed the aircraft sustained damage and an investigation into the cause is underway, while government and African Union officials attended the scene.