294 escape death as two planes crash-land in Lagos
By Kenneth Ehigiator
Thursday, December 30, 2004
LAGOS—TWO major air disasters that would have claimed about 294 passengers yesterday were averted after a Chanchangi Boeing 727 from Port Harcourt and a Kenya Airways Airbus from Nairobi made emergency landing at the Murtala Mohammed Airport, Ikeja, Lagos.
The Chanchangi plane had 74 passengers on board while the Kenya Airways Airbus is capable of carrying about 220. The exact number on board could not be confirmed.
The nose wheel of Chanchangi aircraft was said to have refused to come out during landing. Vanguard gathered that the alert pilot sent a distress call to the control towers, asking that the runway be prepared for him to force down the aircraft. Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) fire facilities were immediately deployed to the runway to help out should there be any fire in the process of forcing down the aircraft.
The aircraft did not suffer any major damage and there were no deaths or injuries in the incident that occurred on the domestic and only runway now being used by local and foreign airlines because of rehabilitation of the runway meant for international flights.
Accident investigators who were at the scene of the incident immediately commenced investigation to ascertain the cause of the problem. The runway was also temporarily closed to pave the way for towing of the aircraft from the runway, an indication that foreign flights into the country would be delayed.
Also, the Kenya Airways plane, according to a source, had under-carriage problem which made it impossible for it to land, after the tyres failed to come out.
It was learnt that the problem of ejection of the tyres compelled the pilot to force the aircraft down, sparking fires in its under-carriage. Vanguard gathered that the prompt intervention of Federal Airports Authority of Nigerian (FAAN) fire fighting team saved what could have been a major disaster.
Confirming the incident, Airport Manager, Engr. Obi Anadu, said the problem was caused by what he called "under pressures on the breaks" of the aircraft.
Engr. Anadu, who could not tell the number of passengers on board, said the aircraft emitted some smoke which was immediately put under control by FAAN fire service.
Officials of Kenya Airways could not be reached at press time.
Reacting to the incident, the airline’s co-ordinator and public relations officer, Alhaji Mohammed Tukur, commended the pilot for the manner he handled the crisis without any casualty.
Meanwhile, Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has grounded all Chanchangi Boeing 727 planes pending further investigation.
Hope this helps, AP