Dana aircraft skids off runway in Lagos, 83 passengers aboard
A Dana Air aircraft, a Boeing MD-82 with registration number 5N-BKI, skidded off the runway at Murtala Muhammed Airport in Lagos while landing on Tuesday.
The aircraft was arriving from Abuja with 83 passengers and 6 crew members on board. The incident resulted in a nose-gear collapse, causing the aircraft to veer off the runway into a grassy area.
Fortunately, all passengers and crew disembarked safely without any injuries. The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) confirmed the occurrence and stated that the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) has initiated an investigation into the incident. The NCAA emphasized its commitment to maintaining high safety standards in the aviation sector and mentioned that it would implement safety recommendations from the NSIB investigation.
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Dana Air prom ptly released a statement acknowledging the runway excursion incident and commending the professionalism of its crew in handling the situation to ensure the safe disembarkation of all passengers. The airline reported the incident to relevant authorities, including the NCAA and NSIB, and grounded the aircraft for further investigation by its maintenance team.
The meteorological data from Lagos airport indicated thunderstorms, rain, and low visibility at the time of the event. Despite these challenging conditions, the crew’s quick thinking and adherence to safety protocols facilitated a successful evacuation of all individuals on board without any harm.
“We have also updated the AIB and the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority on the incident and the aircraft involved has been grounded by our maintenance team for further investigation,” the airline noted.
Appreciating the airport authorities and its crew for their swift response in ensuring the safe disembarkation of passengers following the incident, the airline apologised and appreciated the “passengers on the affected flight for their patience and understanding.”
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The management of the airline reassured its passengers “that their safety will always be our top priority, and we are cooperating fully with the relevant authorities to investigate the circumstances surrounding the incident.”
