Ethiopian Airline Flying Obasanjo, 392 Others Aborts Landing At MMIA
A major air incident was on Wednesday averted due to a careful maneuver by the Pilot-In-Charge, when an Ethiopian airline passenger aircraft, Boeing 777-300 almost overshot the runway at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos.
The incident was said to have occurred due to rain and heavy wind which made the plane to do a slight touch down on the third touchline, instead of the first touch line of the runway.
Some of the passengers in the aircraft include: former president Olusegun Obasanjo; the director general of Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA) Ambassador Ayoola Olukanni; the director of ports inspection, National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) Prof Samson Tunde Adebayo and other 390 passengers.
It was further gathered that the passenger aircraft, ET-901, had departed the Bole International Airport, Addis Ababa, at about 9.10 am, Ethiopian time; 7 am, Nigerian time.
A journalist, who was among the passengers, was quoted as saying that the almost 5-hour flight from the Ethiopian capital to Lagos had been smooth until the pilot attempted to land at the Murtala Muhammed International airport.
According to the passenger, on realising this, the pilot quickly manouvered the plane back air, flying out of the Lagos airport.
After hovering around between Lagos and areas suspected to be in Ogun, causing panic in passengers and crew members, the plane landed in Lagos airport, some 20 minutes after the initial false landing.
The atmosphere in the air bus upon landing was a pure replica of what is obtainable in some Nigerian worship centers, as many passengers broke out into worship songs and clapping, while some fell to their knees in prayer.
The duty manager and Chief Customer Service (Nigeria) of the airline, Mr Otori Jimoh Otan, told journalists that if the pilot had continued taxing down, after landing on the third touch line, he would have overshot the runway.
“But this is an experienced pilot. He realised this immediately. Fortunately, the distance between when he realised the situation still permitted him to take off and renegotiate landing,” Otori said
