37 Passengers Escape Death As Ilorin-Lagos Overland Aircraft Catches Fire

No fewer than 37 persons, including four-member flight crew of Overland Airways survived, as the company’s aircraft with registration number 5N-BRQ engine caught fire mid-air.

The ATR 42 aircraft, en route Ilorin-Lagos, landed successfully on the Runway 18R of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, MMIA, Lagos, on Wednesday evening.

A statement issued by the airline confirmed the incident, stating that “Overland Airways wishes to inform the general public that its flight OF1188 from Ilorin to Lagos experienced an unusual high turbine temperature on one of its engines today, Wednesday, June 15, 2022, around 7:50 pm.

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“This occurred in the approach phase of flight and the aircraft landed very safely as the crew skillfully implemented their standard procedures for such abnormal situations.

”All 33 passengers remained calm through the process and safely disembarked row by row in accordance with post-COVID-19 procedures after the aircraft came to a halt on the Murtala Mohammed International Airport Lagos runway 18 Right. No passenger was hurt in any way.

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“Overland Airways salutes the professional interventions of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, Nigerian Airspace Management Agency, Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority and the Accident Investigation Bureau Nigeria (AIB-N) which were very prompt and reassuring.

“Overland Airways regrets any inconvenience to its passengers and assures the travelling public of its full commitment to the safety of its services and passengers.”

Meanwhile, Nigeria Accident Investigation Bureau (AIB-N) has commenced investigations into the incident. According to the spokesperson of the bureau, Mr Tunji Oketumbi, a team of investigators from the bureau had since been deployed to the scene of the incident at the international wing of the Murtala Muhammed Airport to unravel what led to the incident.

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Commenting on the development, Oketumbi declared: “AIB was notified of the serious incident involving Overland aircraft. Our investigators were dispatched to investigate the occurrence. The investigation is ongoing.”