AIB probes Overland’s near-crash at Lagos airport

Accident Investigation Bureau-Nigeria (AIB-N) has begun a probe of the fire incident involving Overland Airways’ aeroplane on Wednesday night.

The Lagos-bound turboprop aircraft had an engine issue on the approach path of the Lagos airport and made an emergency landing on the international runway.

The Guardian learnt that all 33 passengers safely disembarked unhurt.

Spokesperson for AIB-N, Tunji Oketumbi, yesterday, said the bureau AIB was notified of the serious incident, adding that investigators had been dispatched to conduct an investigation into the occurrence.

According to the Overland management, the flight OF1188, with registration number, 5N- BRQ from Ilorin to Lagos, around 7:50 pm on the said day, experienced a high turbine temperature on one of its engines, but luckily landed safely with all 33 passengers despite a fire on the engine.

“This occurred in the approach phase of flight and the aircraft landed very safely as the crew skillfully implemented their standard procedures for such abnormal situations.

“All 33 passengers remained calm throughout 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 Muhammed International Airport, Lagos runway 18 Right. No passenger was hurt in any way,” the account read in part.

“Overland Airways salutes the professional interventions of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) and the Accident Investigation Bureau-Nigeria (AIB-N) which were very prompt and reassuring,” the account stated in part.