Jetways Airlines Cargo Plane Crashes In Somalia

Jetways Airlines Fokker 50 (5Y-JWG, built 1990) was destroyed in a fatal accident on landing at Eelbarde Airstrip, Somalia. The cargo aircraft l ran off the runway and hit a house. At least one of both pilots did not survive.

The cargo aircraft received non-repairable damages in the fatal accident while landing in Somalia.

According to preliminary reports, the plane crash occurred after the plane had a malfunction and could not extend its legs during landing, and crashed into a building near the airport.

The plane was carrying humanitarian supplies for the World Food Programme when it veered off the runway.

“The United Nations in Somalia expresses its condolence to the family and colleagues of the victim, and wishes a speedy recovery for the injured,” UN said in a statement Thursday.

The UN said it was working with the contracted airline, the federal government and South West State authorities to investigate the incident.

The damaged plane and scene of the accident.

The accident comes just a week after a UN helicopter made an emergency landing in al-Shabaab-controlled territory in central Galmudug state.

An internal UN memo circulated to staff in Somalia last week said nine people were on board the helicopter.

Six were reportedly captured, while one passenger was believed to have been killed and two had fled, the memo added.

The older Fokker 50 has been critiqued before by aviation experts. In 2014, Fokker 50 cargo plane, registered 5Y-CET, operated by Skyward International Aviation (renamed Skyward Express) was destroyed when it impacted a residential area at Utawala, Embakasi, shortly after takeoff. All four on board were killed.