The name refers to the airstrip's location on the country's main NE/SW road, about 50 kilometres south-west of
Mogadishu. In the late 2000s, K50 served as Mogadishu's main airport while
Aden Adde International Airport was briefly shut down due to the 2006–2009
War in Somalia. The Somali-owned,
Dubai Airport-based
Daallo Airlines operated routes to and from K50 at one time. The airstrip was mentioned in the book Quiet Warriors: Veteran's Military Service Memories, written by Blake E. Edwards. ==Facilities==