An Ethiopian Airlines Boeing 737-8 MAX aborted its climb and returned to Somalia shortly after departure on March 4th 2026 following reports of technical difficulties.
The Ethiopian Airlines Boeing 737 MAX 8, registered ET-BBC, was operating flight ET-377 from Mogadishu to Addis Ababa. The aircraft had departed runway 05 at Aden Adde International Airport and was climbing out when the crew stopped the ascent at Flight Level 080.
Instead of continuing toward Ethiopia, the jet entered a holding pattern while the crew assessed the situation. The pilots ultimately decided to discontinue the flight and return to Mogadishu.
Approximately 75 minutes after departure, the aircraft landed safely back on runway 05. There were no immediate reports of injuries.
Somalia’s media outlets reported that the return was prompted by technical difficulties related to aircraft equipment, though specific details about the nature of the issue were not disclosed.
As of about six hours after landing, the aircraft remained on the ground in Mogadishu undergoing technical checks.
While air turn-backs shortly after departure can cause disruption, they are a routine precaution when crews encounter system anomalies. In this case, the decision to level off, hold, and return ensured the aircraft was examined on the ground before attempting the regional sector again.
