Wednesday evening, a four member flight crew of Overland Airways engine caught fire mid air and had a successful landing on the run way 18R of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport Lagos.
The ATR 42 aircraft, was en-route Ilorin-Lagos when the plane suddenly developed a major fault. The aircraft had 37 passengers on board.
The pilots had sent out a Mayday to the Lagos control tower.
Mayday is an emergency procedure word used internationally as a distress signal in voice-procedure radio communications. It is an international radio distress signal used by ships and aircraft.
The incident happened when the pilot in command of the distressed plane was reportedly approaching Lagos.
The Lagos airport control tower consequently put the airport emergency response team, including the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria’s fire services department, on notice, following the Mayday.
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The faulty plane was landed safely by the pilot on the international airport’s runway amid a fully prepared airport emergency response team.
A statement was later issued by Overland confirming the incident. The aircraft’s registration number is 5N-BRQ.
The statement read in part, “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 the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, Nigerian Airspace Management Agency, Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority and the Accident Investigation Bureau Nigeria (AIB-N) which were very prompt and reassuring.
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“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.”
Airport officials who spoke on the development on condition of anonymity said it was good the flight was already on approach to Lagos when the aircraft developed the problem.
The spokesperson for Accident Investigation Bureau, Tunji Oketumbi, could not comment on the incident immediately, saying the agency had yet to be briefed.
The spokesperson for the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, Mr Sam Adurogboye, could not be reached immediately as his telephone line did not connect when our correspondent put a call through.