37 cheated death as Lagos-bound plane catches fire midair
An engine of an Overland Airways ATR 42 aircraft caught fire mid-flight on its route from Ilorin to Lagos on Wednesday night, averting yet another serious flying disaster.
The jet, which had 33 passengers and four staff members on board, was apparently on its way to Lagos’ Murtala Muhammed Airport when it experienced a problem.
For an emergency landing, the pilot issued a Mayday call to the control tower.
Following the Mayday, the Lagos airport control tower put the airport emergency response team on notice, including the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria’s fire services department.
In the midst of a fully equipped airport emergency response team, the pilot safely landed the defective plane on the international airport’s runway.
The operator of the stricken vehicle responded to the incident.
Responding to the incident, the operator of the distressed aircraft Overland Airways said in a statement, “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 7:50 pm.
“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 through the process and safely disembarked row by row by 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.
“Overland Airways regrets any inconvenience to its passengers and assures the traveling public of its full commitment to the safety of its services and passengers.”
