Accident: Tristar A30B at Mogadishu on Oct. 12, Forced Landing Off Airport

A Tristar Air Airbus A300-B4, registration SU-BMZ performing freight flight TSY-810 from Oostende (Belgium) to Mogadishu (Somalia) via Cairo (Egypt) with 6 crew and perishables on behalf of United Nations, was forced to land about 12nm northwest of Mogadishu Airport in an open field between Afgoye and Arbiska villages at about 7:30 p.m. L (4:30 p.m. Z). Two occupants received minor injuries in the landing, the aircraft sustained substantial damage beyond economic repair.

Somali Authorities reported the aircraft had attempted several approaches to Mogadishu Airport but had gone around each time. The aircraft subsequently performed a forced landing off the airport in a government controlled area between Afgoye and Arbiska, about 12nm northwest of Mogadishu airport. Two of the six occupants received minor injuries and were taken to hospitals.

Local police reported the aircraft had suffered problems with the landing gear prompting the approaches to be aborted.

The weather manager at Mogadishu Airport reported, the airport is officially closed from 6:00 p.m. L to 6:00 a.m. L, the aircraft arrived after sunset, was unable to land, could not divert and ran out of fuel.

The airport had been damaged by a Tsunami in 2007, in 2010 the United Nations called for a tender to supply runway lights and according to media reports contracted solar/battery powered LED runway edge and threshold lighting systems as well as a solar/battery powered LED APAPI approach guidance lighting system, all of which by specification are capable to ensure 24/7 operation. There is no indication Mogadishu Airport has approach lights or precision approaches. The airport offers a runway 05/23 of 3220 meters/10,560 feet length.

No weather data are available, both weather stations at the airport (METARs) and local weather station were offline, METARs produced only NIL messages.