A Lockheed L-100 Hercules cargo aircraft veered off the runway while landing at Jowhar airstrip, Somalia earlier, March 9th, 2024. The airstrip is located approximately 90 kilometers north of Mogadishu, the capital of Somalia.
The Lockheed aircraft with registration 5X-SBR was reportedly carrying supplies for the African Union troops stationed in Somalia to assist the federal government in its ongoing fight against Al-Shabaab, an extremist group linked to al-Qaeda.
Jowhar airstrip is a relatively small facility primarily used for domestic cargo and humanitarian flights.
The cause of the incident is still under investigation. Possible explanations could include adverse weather conditions, mechanical issues, or pilot error.
BREAKING: A plane carrying supplies for the African Union troops veers off runway at Jowhar airstrip, 90KM north of North of Mogadishu, a local official tells state media.
Mukhtar Abukar Moallim tells SNTV that everyone on board the plane is safe.
It’s unclear what caused the… pic.twitter.com/G8Qv6WlbYJ
— Harun Maruf (@HarunMaruf) March 9, 2024
Details surrounding the incident are scarce at this time. No one was injured in the incident, whereas the extent of damage to the aircraft is unknown.
Somalia has a long history of air accidents, often attributed to a combination of factors such as aging aircraft, poorly maintained infrastructure, and challenging weather conditions.
