Passengers disembarking from the aircraft
Air Peace Flight P47291 from Abuja to Port Harcourt on Saturday skidded off the runway on touch down due to heavy downpour.
Chief Operating Officer of the airline, Toyin Olajide who confirmed the incident, attributed it to flooding due to heavy rainfall, which was still on when the aircraft landed.
She said the flight, which was operated by Boeing B737-500 took off from Abuja and landed at 3:42 pm when the incident happened.
THISDAY learnt that the aircraft was able to stop immediately it skidded off and that the runway was heavily flooded due to prolonged rainfall.
Eyewitness account said that passengers in the aircraft were petrified when the incident happened but nobody was hurt and there was no discernible damage on the aircraft.
This was confirmed by the General Manager, Public Affairs, Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Henrietta Yakubu who said that although the aircraft skidded off the runway, but the pilot was able to stop the aircraft, adding that despite the rain the undercarriage of the aircraft did not sink into the soil.
Yakubu added that from the feedback she received from Port Harcourt, none of the passengers or the crew of the flight was hurt.
The aircraft has been grounded for inspection by aviation authorities.
