A tragedy was averted when a distressed Overland aircraft with 33 passengers and four flight crew members successfully landed at the Murtala Muhammad International Airport, Lagos on the night of Wednesday, June 15, 2022.
The ATR 42 aircraft which took off from Ilorin International Airport was approaching the Lagos airport when one of its engines suddenly caught fire mid-air.
It was gathered that the pilots had to send out a Mayday to the Lagos control tower for emergency response.
Mayday is a term in aviation used for an emergency situation.
Confirming the incident in a statement on Thursday, the airline said the aircraft experienced an unusual high turbine temperature on one of its engines.
The statement added that the passengers remained calm through the turbulence while the pilots safely landed the plane.
The airline also said no passenger was hurt in the incident.
The statement reads in part: “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.
“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.
“Overland Airways salutes the professional interventions of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) 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 traveling public of its full commitment to the safety of its services and passengers.”
