Aero aircraft crash-lands in Lagos

Barely 24 hours to the fifth anniversary of the Bellview air crash in Lisa, Ogun State, an Aero Airline aircraft crashed-landed in Lagos yesterday, leaving over 15 passengers injured. 

The aircraft which was coming from Port-Harcourt, the Rivers State capital was involved in an emergency landing on the Runway 1.8 R of the airport.

Tears and screaming seized the aircraft after smoke enveloped the cabin.

There was, however, no loss of lives in the incident.

Some of the passengers who spoke with The Nation said there was a sudden loss of pressure, which led to huge smoke in the aircraft cabin when the aircraft was making its final landing approach into the Murtala Muhammed Airport.

They said the smoke originated from the cockpit and later engulfed the business and economy cabins.

One of the passengers, Moses Alex said the 4.00pm flight was delayed for almost an hour in Port Harcourt. 

“As the aircraft was approaching the airport for landing and everybody was seated and fastened their seat belts, we just saw a huge smoke coming out from the cockpit into the business and economy classes.

“The cabin crew tried to manage the situation but when they realised that the situation was out of control, they told us to be prepared for emergency landing and speedy evacuation. We just noticed that the bellowing of the smoke was becoming stronger. Immediately, we saw the exits opened, passengers stated jumping out from all directions. A lady who jumped down thinking that the aircraft would explode had her waist injured. You can see also that I sustained injury on my legs.”

A female passenger urged the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) to investigate the cause of the incident. 

In a statement issued last night, the management of the airline said the incident occurred when smoke was detected in the cabin. The statement reads: “An incident occurred this evening on flight AJ 320 from Port Harcourt to Lagos when a smoke was detected in the cabin. Aero was able to successfully evacuate all 84 passengers, an infant and five crew members as the B737-500 aircraft landed at the Murtala Muhammed International airport, Lagos at 6.15 pm local time. The airline with officials of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authorities have been invited to investigate the cause of the incident.”   

Director-General of the NCAA Dr. Harold Demuren said investigations into the causes of the incident had started.

Demuren, however, said what the passengers saw was not smoke but mist released from the aircondition valve.