A bodyguard for Somalia’s top police officer has died in a horrific accident after walking into the still-rotating propeller of the plane he had just disembarked from, as shocking footage circulating online shows.
Mukhtar Qasim Samay, a member of the Somali Police Force serving in the Haramacad unit, was struck on the head and killed instantly on the tarmac at Dhusamareb Airport in central Somalia on Tuesday night.Mirror
The tragedy unfolded moments after Mogadishu Police Chief Ma’alin Mahdi (also known as Mahdi Omar Muumin or Macallin Mahdi) and his security detail landed in the administrative capital of the Galmudug region. They had flown in ahead of Thursday’s planned inauguration of Galmudug’s new leader, Liban Ahmed Hassan.Peopledaily
Shaky footage captures chaos on the tarmac
The roughly 19-second video, originally shared by local outlet Dalsan TV and widely circulated on social media, shows a white Star Airlines twin-propeller aircraft parked on the dimly lit tarmac at night. A portable staircase is attached to the open door as passengers and security personnel descend into a gathering crowd of men in suits, traditional clothing and military-style uniforms.
In the chaotic scenes, one individual is seen being hastily pulled back by another man after walking too close to the danger zone. Moments later, Samay, in uniform, steps off the stairs and walks away from the aircraft while one of the propellers continues spinning. He is struck on the head and collapses.Mirror
Local reports state he died at the scene. Some accounts describe the propeller striking his head or neck area. The engine appears not to have been fully shut down, a practice sometimes used on aircraft without a separate auxiliary power unit to keep systems running, though standard safety procedures require clear zones around active propellers.
A ‘hero’ of the force
Samay was part of the security detail protecting Police Chief Mahdi, the Banadir Regional Police Commander responsible for security in the capital. Following the death, Mahdi Omar Mumin posted a tribute on Facebook.
“Innaa lillaahi wa innaa ilayhi raajicuun. I send my deepest condolences to the family, relatives, friends and all the Somali Police Forces, the shocking death that happened to them,” he wrote.
He added: “May Allah have mercy on K/S Muqtar Qaasim Samay, who was one of the heroes of the Somali Police force, especially Haramacad.” Mumin hoped the officer’s family would find patience and strength in their mourning.
Questions over airport safety
The incident has raised serious concerns about aviation safety standards at Somali airports, particularly the handling of propeller aircraft on the ground. Crowds routinely gather near planes to greet officials, and night-time operations with limited lighting can make spinning propellers difficult to see.
Star Airlines has not issued a public statement, and no details of a formal investigation have been released. Security in Dhusamareb had been tightened ahead of the Galmudug leadership ceremony, according to local media, though the election of Hassan has been described as disputed in some reports.
Somalia continues to face significant security challenges, including threats from al-Shabaab militants, making high-level movements tightly controlled. This accident, however, was entirely avoidable, observers noted, highlighting the risks of inadequate ground procedures around active aircraft.
The body of the officer was taken to Dhusamareb city as preparations continued for the inauguration.
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