-NCAA reveals cause crash
By Kehinde Ibrahim, Lagos and By Emmanuel Obisue, Abuja
DANA Air flight with registration number 5N BKI carrying 83 passengers skidded off the runway on landing at the domestic wing of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, runway 18L.
A statement from the airline indicates that no passenger was injured, as the fire service was on hand to carry out rescue efforts, and ensure that the passengers deboarded the aircraft without hitches.
The statement said, “Dana Air regrets to inform the public of a runway incursion involving one of our aircrafts, registration number 5N BKI, which was flying from Abuja to Lagos today 23/04/24.”
“We are relieved to confirm that all 83 passengers and crew onboard the flight disembarked safely without injuries or scare as the crew handled the situation with utmost professionalism. We have also updated the Nigerian Safety and Investigation Bureau (NSIB) and the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) on the incident and the aircraft involved has been grounded by our maintenance team for further investigation.
“We wish to thank the airport authorities, our crew for their very swift response in ensuring the safe disembarkation of all passengers following the incident and our sincere apologies and appreciation to the passengers on the affected flight for their patience and understanding.
“We wish to reassure our passengers that their safety will always be our top priority, and we are cooperating fully with the relevant authorities to investigate the circumstances surrounding the incident”, it added.
Meanwhile, Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA has said a retraction of the Nosewheel of Dana Air’s MD82 aircraft with registration number 5SN-BKI, caused the aircraft to crash-land at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos on Tuesday.
“Upon landing at MMIA, the Air Transport Controller [ATC] Tower observed at C4 that the Nosewheel had retracted and the nose of the aircraft collapsed and the aircraft veered off the runway into the grassy area,” a statement signed by Capt. Chris Najomo, Acting Director General of the NCAA stated.
The NCAA added that the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau, NSIB has commenced its investigation into the occurrence.
“The NCAA reiterates its avowed commitment to a safe and secure aviation sector. In furtherance to this commitment, the Authority will be looking to implement the safety recommendations expected from the NSIB investigation while it carries out its own in-house safety assessment of the occurrence.
“The traveling public is hereby assured of NCAA’s unrelenting efforts in holding all operators and service providers in the sector to the highest international safety standards,” the statement added.
