Ethiopian cargo plane averts collision, skids off taxi-way at Lagos airport

A ground collision was averted Wednesday when a cargo Ethiopian airline (ET-ASL) from Addis Ababa veered off the taxi-way and got stuck in a mud at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos.

Ground collision is one that occurs while an aircraft is taxiing to or from a runway in use. While most occurrences on airport aprons and taxiways do not have consequences in terms of loss of life, they are often associated with aircraft damage, delays to passengers and avoidable financial costs.

An airport official who witnessed the incident told Aviation Metric under condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to the media disclosed that the cargo aircraft upon landing was trying to avoid an Overland (5N-BCR) aircraft that was having Engine Test Runs.

He disclosed that in the process of keeping enough safe distance from the Overland aircraft, the Ethiopian aircraft left back tyres swayed off from the runway and got stuck on the ground.

There was no casualty or damage to the aircraft. After much effort from staff and assistance from a construction company, the aircraft was said to have been removed at about 4pm

A video of the incident sent to our reporter shows how the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) fire department raced to the scene of the incident. Footage from the scene shows airport workers trying to get the plane out of the mud.

Spokesman for Accident Investigation Bureau (AIB), Mr. Tunji Oketunbi confirmed the incident but described it as “minor”.

He further stated that the AIB team had visited the scene of the incident, inspected and handed the investigation to the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) for further probe.

Wole Shadare