Somalia: Plane crash-lands in Mogadishu airport

MOGADISHU, Somalia - At least two people were injured on Tuesday after a plane they were traveling in crash-landed at Aden Adde International Airport in Mogadishu, authorities confirmed, in the latest scare in a rather smooth and reliable aviation industry in Somalia.

The plane, officials said, was flying from Garowe, the capital of Puntland, and developed landing difficulties after its gear failed to work properly. The Halla Airlines passenger jet skidded off the runway, crushed against a concrete barrier just steps from the sea at 12:30 P.M.

Fardowsa Osman Egal, Somalia's aviation minister, said the plane was carrying 30 passengers and four crew members at the time of the accident within the country's busiest airport. The injured passengers were rushed to a Mogadishu hospital for specialized treatment.

The minister further confirmed that former Prime Ministers Abdiweli Gaas and Omar Abdirashid were not among the passengers on board, contrary to social media reports which claimed they were in the ill-fated plane. The two have been in Garowe to solve a political crisis.

Last week, Gaas and Sharmarke asked Puntland leader Said Abdullahi Deni to convene a meeting over electoral dialogue, following months of complaints from members of the opposition and the international community. The opposition accuses Deni of plotting to extend his term.

Air transport in Somalia is considered the most efficient means of transport given the dilapidated road infrastructure and insecurity in the country. Furthermore, air transport is the safest given frequent Al-Shabaab attacks across the country which target innocent civilians and members of security forces.

The Al-Shabaab have been controlling several parts of the country but the recent onslaught by multi-agency security teams have managed to dethrone them from strategic areas. The country is plotting the second and perhaps final assault on Al-Shabaab in Jubaland and Southwest states.

GAROWE ONLINE