The corrupt officials in Somalia have stepped up their game to new heights. There is always little abuse of power and insult in Somalia here and there, and people complain. Still, nothing is as life-threatening as issuing airline company licenses without assessing the airplanes. Of course, there are many life-threatening issues in Somalia, but I am trying to discuss the negligence of government agencies. I am writing this based on my experience with one of the airlines operating within Somalia, Hala Airlines.
I took a flight from Moqdisho to Garowe on the 7th of July, 2023, and the experience could not be put into words. At least not in a conventional way, but I will try. I should be shouting from my lungs at the Burj Khalifa tower, warning people about how life-threatening the small planes that operate in Somalia are. Ironically, flying to or from Nairobi Hala Airlines is much more in shape than when flying to Growe or any other Somali city work. The horror started from take off in Mogadishu as the plane almost lost control on the runway. Luckily takeoff was over, but the worry and mistrust about arriving safely in Garowe had shifted, and all the passengers shared their concerns.
None of the passengers closed their eyes during the two-hour flight or tried to busy themselves with anything other than the plane, and to add insult to injury, the landing in Garowe was so horrifying we thought it had crushed. The plane almost drifted from the highway as Garowe Airport had higher wind levels than Mogadishu Airport, but luckily the plane finally wholly stopped. This was the first time I witnessed people clapping when the plane stopped. I only heard about the cliche of the idea, but to see it from Somali people was just another level.
While disembarking the plane, the only question in mind for all passengers was how this plane would fly back to Mogadishu in this shape, and the proof of our doubt couldn't be any further than a total crush in the Mogadishu runway. Luckily, no one was seriously hurt, but does that mean there is no blame?
More importantly, who is to blame? This was not the first time a plane crashed in one of the Somali airports, and no one discussed the matter, but this time, I was a passenger, and my life was at utmost risk. So I did a little digging, and I found out we have an authority and an agency in charge of safeguarding the public from planes in such shape. I get it when the ministering of labor employs a couple of his buddies or when the minister of education awards scholarships to his people, but how do you explain when civil aviation allows their buddy broken plane in rotation and to serve the people?
In summary, Flying is the safest way to travel in the world. They say you are ten times more likely to die in a train than in an airplane, but this is not the case for Somalia. The airline industry and the Somali civil aviation authority must be reviewed to flush out the corrupt individuals that endanger our society.
We already have many things to threaten our life; we can't afford to have another, especially one that has to do with our daily lives.
Regards.
Dr. Salman Hassan Badal.
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