DG NCAA: How Dana Air’s aircraft nose wheel collapsed

The Director-General of Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) Capt Chris Najomo has given a graphic picture of how MD 83 aircraft belonging to Dana Air skidded off the Lagos airport runway shortly after landing.

Najomo in a statement on Tuesday said at about 08:25, a Dana Airline aircraft with registration 5N-BKI was involved in a runway excursion occurrence.

He further stated that the aircraft departed Abuja for Lagos with 83 passengers and six crew members onboard.

NCAA

Upon landing at MMIA, he said air traffic controllers observed at C4 that the nose wheel of the aircraft collapsed leading to the aircraft veering off the runway into the grassy area.

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“Very importantly, all passengers and crew disembarked and were evacuated safely while runway 18L was closed.

“By statutory procedures, the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau [NSIB) has commenced its investigation into the occurrence.”

He reiterated the NCAA’s avowed commitment to a safe and secure aviation sector and reiterated that in furtherance to the commitment, the authority will be looking to implement the safety recommendations expected from the NSIB investigation while it carries out its in-house safety assessment of the occurrence.

The travelling public is hereby assured of the NCAA’s unrelenting efforts to hold all operators and service providers in the sector to the highest international safety standards.

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Wole Shadare