The Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) says it has launched an investigation to unravel the causes of the runway excursion at the Murtala Muhammad Airport (MMA), Lagos on Tuesday.
Daily Trust reports that there was tension at the airport on Tuesday when a Dana Air plane overshot the runway.
The incident happened around 9:30am prompting runway 18L to be closed while all domestic arrivals and departures were temporarily diverted to runway 18R.
However, passengers were evacuated unhurt using the emergency exit gate while the aircraft was stuck in the grass near the runway.
Our correspondent learnt that the incident happened after a heavy downpour in Lagos.
Dana Air, in a statement commended “the experience, professionalism and swift response demonstrated by our crew in handling the runway excursion incident.”
It, however, apologised to passengers for their schedule disruption following the grounding of the aircraft involved in the excursion.
“We understand the frustration and inconvenience experienced by passengers whose travel plans were disrupted due to the incident and we are deeply sorry.”
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The airline stated that “quick thinking, adherence to safety strict standards, and effective communication ensured the safe disembarkation of all passengers without injury.”
NSIB, in a statement by its Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Mrs Bimbo Oladeji, said it has commenced an investigation into the case.
The bureau, after preliminary fact-finding, said: “The aircraft had a technical problem with its landing gear and experienced directional control problems after landing, which made it veer off the runway to the left and travel onto the grassy area near the Runway 18L link 6 turn-off point.”
The Director General of NSIB, Captain Alex Badeh Jr., said, “A go-team has been dispatched to the incident scene and has begun inquiries. We will leave no stone unturned in examining all aspects surrounding the incident.”
The NSIB disclosed that the investigation team has retrieved the flight data recorder and the cockpit voice recorder, which will be taken to its lab for data download.
The Acting Director-General of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority, Capt. Chris Najomo, in a statement on the runway excursion, said upon landing at MMIA, the Air Traffic Controller (ATC) tower observed at C4 that the nosewheel had retracted the nose of the aircraft collapsed and the aircraft veered off the runway into the grassy area.
