SOMALI POLICE OFFICER KILLED BY AIRCRAFT PROPELLER AFTER LANDING

A police officer in Somalia has died after being hit by a rotating aircraft propeller 6shortly after stepping off a plane at an airport in the central part of the country.

The deceased, identified as Mukhtar Qasim Samay, was a member of the security team attached to the Mogadishu Police Chief, Ma’alin Mahdi.

The incident occurred on Tuesday at Dhusamareb Airport, where Mahdi and his security personnel had arrived ahead of the inauguration of Galmudug State’s incoming leader, Liban Ahmed Hassan.

According to local media reports, Samay was walking away from the aircraft after disembarking when he was struck on the head by one of its still-moving propellers. He died at the scene.

Footage of the incident circulating online showed a white twin-engine aircraft bearing the inscription STAR AIRLINES parked on the airport tarmac at night, with its propellers still spinning as passengers and security personnel alighted.

The video also showed several men gathered around the aircraft, including security operatives in military-style uniforms and others dressed in formal and traditional attire.

Towards the end of the 19-second footage, people around the aircraft appeared to react suddenly, while the camera shook and the images became blurred. However, the video did not clearly capture the moment the officer was struck.

Samay was reportedly attached to the Haramacad unit of the Somali Police Force.

Following his death, Mahdi Omar Mumin took to Facebook to express condolences to the deceased’s family, friends and colleagues in the police force.

He described Samay as one of the heroes of the Somali Police Force, particularly the Haramacad unit, and prayed for Allah to grant him mercy.

The Mogadishu police chief had travelled to Dhusamareb ahead of Thursday’s inauguration of Hassan, an event expected to be attended by political and security officials.

Dhusamareb serves as the administrative capital of Galmudug, one of Somalia’s federal member states. Local reports said security arrangements had been strengthened in the city ahead of the inauguration.