Aviation

Flooding Forces Air Peace Flight Off Runway at PH Airport

Passengers disembarking from the aircraft
Passengers disembarking from the aircraft
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.

We confirm that Air Peace Flight Flight P47291 Abuja-Port Harcourt  had a runway excursion upon landing at the Port Harcourt International Airport on June 22 due to heavy downpour.
” Our professional crew quickly recovered within seconds of the incident and the aircraft was successfully normalised.
“Our esteemed passengers on board the flight were calm during the incident and disembarked normally.
“Our teams of experts and the authorities are currently reviewing the incident and we will give our cooperation for a thorough exercise.
“We apologise to our esteemed passengers for the inconvenience caused them and wish to assure them that we will continue to prioritise their safety in all our operations,” Olajide said.
THISDAY
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