Almost 40 passengers escape death as Overland Airways plane crashlands in Lagos

ALMOST 40 people including a four-member flight crew miraculously escaped death when an Overland Airways aircraft crash-landed at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport in Lagos yesterday after the engine caught fire in mid air.

In an inexplicable aversion of disaster, the 37 people aboard the ATR 42 aircraft, which arrived from Ilorin, avoided death.  Following the pilot-in-command of the aircraft’s report on the incident, the Lagos airport control tower consequently put the airport emergency response team, including the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria's (Faan) fire services department, on notice.

An Overland spokesman said: “Overland Airways wishes to inform the general public that its flight OF1188 from Ilorin to Lagos experienced an unusual high turbine temperature on one of its engines today, Wednesday, June 15, 2022 around 7.50pm. This occurred in the approach phase of flight and the aircraft landed very safely as the crew skilfully implemented their standard procedures for such abnormal situations.

“All 33 passengers remained calm through the process and safely disembarked row by row in accordance with post-Covid-19 procedures after the aircraft came to a halt on the Murtala Mohammed International Airport Lagos runway 18 Right. No passenger was hurt in any way.

“Overland Airways salutes the professional interventions of Faan, the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency, the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority and the Accident Investigation Bureau (AIB), which were very prompt and reassuring. Overland Airways regrets any inconvenience to its passengers and assures the travelling public of its full commitment to the safety of its services and passengers.”

AIB spokesman Tunji Oketubi, confirmed that development was true but stated that he is yet to get full details of the development. He also noted that after proper assessment, the bureau will share a statement to the general public.

NCAA general Samuel Adurogboye, added: “After they have carried out the necessary maintenance, there will be an inspection of the aircraft. We cannot understand what led to this development until the AIB, along with every other stakeholders in the aviation sector, conclude the inspection.”