WELCOME TO R!NEWS: Air Peace Aircraft Makes Hard Landing At Lagos Airport

Lagos – An Air Peace aircraft, a Boeing 737-300 with registration number 5N-BQO, Tuesday afternoon suffered an incident while taxing at the Murtala Muhammed Airport (MMA), Lagos.

The aircraft was on its way from the Port Harcourt airport with 139 persons— 133 passengers and six crewmembers— as at the time of the incident.
A source close to the Lagos airport, confided in our correspondent that the nose wheel gear of the aircraft partially collapsed when the pilot was taxing on the international runway, 18 Right.
The source said that the cause of the collapse of the nose gear could not be ascertained, but told our correspondent that the female pilot had requested for the international runway to land instead of the domestic runway, 18 Left.
Though, as at the time the aircraft landed, the runway was wet because of the rainfall, but the incident could not be attributed to the runway as the aircraft landed successfully.
Besides, Accident Investigation Bureau (AIB) said that it had been notified of the incident by the airline.
A statement by Tunji Oketunbi, General Manager, Public Affairs, AIB, said that there were 133 passengers and six crewmembers onboard as at the time of the incident.
Oketunbi said that the incident occurred at 12:38p.m when the aircraft was on approach to Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos from Port Harcourt.
The statement hinted that the bureau had dispatched its investigators to the scene of the incident and called for necessary information from the members of the public that would further aid its investigation.
He added: “From the information provided, the aircraft nose wheel collapsed on landing on the runway (18R) and the nose wheel gear tyre sheared off.
“The AIB was informed of a minor injury, but no fatality. Our team of safety investigators has commenced investigations. As the investigating agency, AIB, needs and hereby solicits for your help.
“We want the public to know that we would be amenable to receiving any video clip, relevant evidence, or information any members of the public may have of the accident; that can assist us with this investigation.”
Commenting on the incident, Engr. Akin Olateru, the Commissioner of AIB, called on the public to respect the privacy of the people involved and warned against pre-empting the cause of the accident.
Sam Adurogboye, the General Manager, Public Affairs, NCAA, also confirmed the incident to our correspondent.
Adurogboye said that the agency had been notified of the incident by the airline.
However, the management of Air Peace has commended the pilot of the aircraft and her crew, Capt. Simisola Ajibola, for acting professionally.
A statement by Mrs. Toyin Olajide, the Chief Operating Officer (COO) of the airline, said that the pilot who was the pilot-in-command (PIC) as at the time of the incident, noticed sudden weather changes when approaching Lagos and demanded to land on the international runway as it was longer and wider than the domestic runway.
Olajide said that after the pilot landed safely and rolling to the runway exit, the nose gear developed a problem and partially collapsed.
She hinted that the crew notified the airport authorities who quickly ensured the safe disembarkation of the passengers via the passenger door.