Flight Details
The flight was a cargo operation from Ostend, Belgium, to Mogadishu, Somalia, with an intermediate stop in Cairo, Egypt, carrying perishable goods for the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM). The final approach to Mogadishu-Aden Abdulle International Airport was conducted at night.
Approach Attempts
The crew was unable to localize the runway on the first approach and initiated a go-around. A second attempt was also interrupted, and the crew performed another go-around before proceeding north of the capital. The captain eventually decided to attempt an emergency belly landing near Afgooye, approximately 25 km northwest of Mogadishu.
Emergency Landing
Upon landing, the aircraft lost both engines and came to rest in the bush. Two crew members were taken to hospital, while four others were uninjured. The aircraft sustained damage beyond repair.
Airport Closure and Communication
According to Somali authorities, Mogadishu International Airport is open to traffic from 0600 to 1800 local time. The crew began their descent while the airport was already closed—sunset occurred at 1747 LT. The controller had advised the flight information center that the airport would be closed at the estimated arrival time and recommended diversion to the alternate, but received no feedback. Later, the crew communicated their intention to land despite being informed of the closure. The controller provided landing information but stated that instructions were advisory only. The crew attempted to land but aborted; at one point, the pilot mistook a street parallel to the runway for the runway. All approaches were unsuccessful.
Probable Cause
According to the official findings, the controller repeatedly warned the crew that Mogadishu Airport closed at 1800 LT (1500 Z) and lacked adequate runway lighting for night operations. The crew insisted on landing, but the visibility was limited to a few meters due to darkness. The fuel exhaustion likely made an emergency landing unavoidable. The reason the crew did not divert to the alternate airport remains unknown.