Plane crash averted at Lagos airport

An air crash was averted on Tuesday afternoon at the Lagos airport as the tyre of a commercial aircraft belonging to Aero Contractors blew up just as the plane was taking off.

It was gathered that the Abuja-bound aircraft, which had over 100 passengers on board, successfully took off but the pilot had to make an air return to the terminal where it had departed.

Our correspondent learnt that all the passengers and crew members on board the Aero flight NG127 from Lagos to Abuja escaped unhurt as the pilot was able to control the situation.

It was also gathered that the passengers, who still wished to continue with their journey, were transferred to other flights.

A passenger on board the flight, who simply identified himself as Emma, said that the incident happened around 4pm and noted that there was panic in the aircraft when the passengers sitting close to the door noticed that the plane had lost a tyre.

He said, “It was as if the pilot didn’t even know that his aircraft had lost a tyre because he took off from the ground. It was after those of us who were close to the door started screaming that he realized what had happened.

“He later made an emergency return mid-air, and this happened around 4pm. In fact, it was when we landed that we noticed that it was a serious tyre burst. But nobody was hurt and we must appreciate the pilot’s maturity and professionalism in handling the situation and landing the plane with a burst tyre.”

By 6.40pm when this report was filed, Aero Contractors had done 37 flights across the country and the management of the carrier confirmed the incident, noting that it ensured that it transported the affected passengers to Abuja the same day.

The spokesperson for the airline, Mr. Simon Tumba, told our correspondent that the situation was adequately controlled, as no passenger or crew member sustained any form of injury.

He said, “Aero flight NG127 from Lagos to Abuja on this day (Tuesday) made an air return as a result of a burst tyre, which occurred just as the airplane was lifting off. The pilot did the right thing by not trying to abort the takeoff.

“He controlled the airplane into the air and following all training procedures, he brought the plane back to a safe landing. At no time during all of this were the passengers’ lives at any risk.”