by Isi Esene
Sixty three people escaped death today as an Overland Airplane reportedly crash-landed at the Ilorin Airport.
The plane which took off from Abuja reportedly crash-landed and veered of the runway with 59 passengers and 4 crew members on board.
There were no casualties in the accident but reports indicate that the airline passengers were visibly shaken by the experience.
A statement by the General Manager, Public Affairs, of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Fan Ndubuoke, confirmed that no life was lost. He added that the incident is already being investigated.
The statement read: “An Overland flight 1186, an ATR 72 aircraft with Registration number 5N-BPG from Abuja airport to Ilorin, carrying fifty nine passengers and four crew members, veered off the runway at low speed after a normal landing at the Ilorin Airport.
“The incident which occurred today Saturday, November 29, at 4.45pm, has no casualty recorded. However, the Accident and Prevention Bureau in conjunction with the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority has begun an investigation into the cause of the incident.
“The authority wishes to use this medium to reassure Nigerians that safety of the traveling public is still paramount and cannot be compromised.”
A statement from the airline management indicate that the plane did not crash-land as it is being widely reported.
According to the management, “It was a normal flight to Ilorin and standard procedures of flight were followed. The aircraft landed safely at Ilorin Airport at 1645hrs as scheduled and decelerated to a low speed, and in turning off the active runway, veered off the pavement.
See a photo of the aircraft below:
