A member of the Banadir Regional Police Commander’s security detail, identified as Mukhtaar Qaasim, has died in an accident at Dhusamareb Airport after reportedly being struck by an aircraft propeller while disembarking.
According to accounts of the incident, the aircraft had landed but its propeller was still rotating when Qaasim stepped off. He was reportedly struck by the moving propeller, sustaining fatal injuries.
Qaasim was part of the security team accompanying the Banadir Regional Police Commander, who travelled to Dhusamareb to attend the inauguration ceremony of Galmudug’s newly appointed leader, Liibaan Ahmed Hassan. His election has been disputed.
The incident has raised concerns about passenger safety procedures at airports in Somalia, particularly the precautions taken when passengers leave aircraft after landing.
Aircraft with exposed propellers require strict safety measures while on the ground.
Passengers must be guided along designated routes and kept at a safe distance from rotating propellers and operating engines until the aircraft has been declared safe for disembarkation.
Airport authorities and airline operators are responsible for ensuring that appropriate ground-handling procedures are followed and that passengers receive clear instructions to prevent accidents of this nature.
So far, publicly available accounts have not provided details of any formal investigation into the incident or clarified what safety procedures were in place when Qaasim left the aircraft.
His death highlights the importance of enforcing airport safety standards and ensuring that ground personnel properly supervise passenger movements to reduce the risk of similar tragedies.