Heart-stopping moment plane with 34 passengers skids off runway breaking in two

13 July 2023 , 07:21

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Heart-stopping moment plane with 34 passengers skids off runway breaking in two

Terrifying footage shows the moment a plane suddenly veered off a runway after landing.

The Halla Airlines flight with 34 people on board can be seen skidding off the runway and smashing into a concrete wall after touching down at Mogadishu's Aden Adde Airport in Somalia.

Of the July 11 incident, Somali Civil Aviation Authority said: "There was no fatality from the accident except minor injuries.

"The Somali Civil Aviation Authority would like to reaffirm that the preliminary report will be released once the current investigation concludes."

Injuries have been reported among the passengers, but it is not clear how serious they are.

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The plane suddenly veered off course

The aircraft broke into two after it hit a concrete wall

It is not yet known what caused the incident that left the Embraer EMB 120 Brasilia prop plane splitting into two as the plane veered off course at 12.23pm local time, but some reports indicate that potential pilot error is an area being considered for investigation.

Local reports suggest the pilot did not report any problems before landing.

"We are now working on the plane's issue," Halla Airlines spokesperson Ismail Mohamud told VOA Somali. "Facts will be established once the cockpit voice recorder and black box are analysed."

During the footage, the plane is shown split in two from the cockpit and a lone figure can be seen emerging from the huge gap in the fuselage.

An investigation is taking place to determine the cause of the incident

After the incident went viral online, social media users were quick to share their thoughts.

"All things considered, I think the pilot did a good job," one person said.

Another added: "Hey, at least they landed."

Further reports indicate that Halla Airlines is a Somali airline based in Nairobi, Kenya and was founded in 2015.

The runway incident comes after two United and Alaska Airlines pilots were forced to abort their landings after nearly colliding with a Southwest jet earlier this year.

The incident in occurred as air traffic controllers at San Francisco International Airport berated a Southwest pilot after they were heard saying "they shouldn't be on the runway."

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In a statement, the Federal Aviation Administration tried to play down the incident, it said: "The FAA looked into the events and determined the appropriate steps were taken to ensure safe operations."

However, Ross Sagun, who flew for more than 40 years as a commercial airline pilot, said the incident was a “runway incursion” and a “very serious event".

He told San Francisco Chronicle: “It’s definitely reportable and I hope it’s being investigated. If not, it should be.”

Benjamin Lynch