Forty-nine passengers yesterday escaped death after a Dana Air aircraft numbered 9J0363, flying from Abuja to Port Harcourt, overshot the Port Harcourt International Airport runway.
The incident was suspected to have been caused by a heavy rain, which was accompanied by strong wind and storm in Port Harcourt. The aircraft was still in the bush as at press time from where passengers were being evacuated. Spokesperson for the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Mrs. Henrietta Yakubu, in a statement made available to New Telegraph, attributed the incident to a heavy rain, which she said was accompanied by strong wind and storm in Port Harcourt.
“No casualty was recorded, as all passengers on board were safely evacuated,” FAAN stated. Dana Air, in a statement last night confirmed that its aircraft skidded off the runway. The carrier said no casualty was recorded and all passengers and crew disembarked safely.
“Our aircraft (9j0363) operating the Abuja -Port Harcourt flight skidded off the runway at the Port Harcourt International Airport, as a result of the bad weather situation and torrential rain at the time of landing.
Forty-nine passengers yesterday escaped death after a Dana Air aircraft numbered 9J0363, flying from Abuja to Port Harcourt, overshot the Port Harcourt International Airport runway.
The incident was suspected to have been caused by a heavy rain, which was accompanied by strong wind and storm in Port Harcourt. The aircraft was still in the bush as at press time from where passengers were being evacuated. Spokesperson for the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Mrs. Henrietta Yakubu, in a statement made available to New Telegraph, attributed the incident to a heavy rain, which she said was accompanied by strong wind and storm in Port Harcourt.
“No casualty was recorded, as all passengers on board were safely evacuated,” FAAN stated. Dana Air, in a statement last night confirmed that its aircraft skidded off the runway. The carrier said no casualty was recorded and all passengers and crew disembarked safely.
“Our aircraft (9j0363) operating the Abuja -Port Harcourt flight skidded off the runway at the Port Harcourt International Airport, as a result of the bad weather situation and torrential rain at the time of landing.
“We commend the Pilotin- command who was able to control the aircraft to a complete stop, before passengers and crew disembarked. We also wish to applaud the Captain for exhibiting the highest safety standards and handling the situation professionally,” it said. Mr. Sam Adurogboye, General Manager, Public Relations, Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), also confirmed the incident.
He said the aircraft was partially damaged after it overshot the runway. “I learnt the runway has been closed, but it will be reopened before the next 30 minutes after inspection has been carried out on it. “Forty-nine passengers were on board and safely evacuated. The aircraft came in from Abuja to Port Harcourt,” he said.
Exactly two weeks ago, passengers were aghast in fear when one of the emergency doors of the Dana Air aircraft conveying them fell off on landing at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.
The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) swiftly commenced an investigation into the incident.
Culled from NewTelegraph
