An aircraft engine packed up shortly before take-off at
the Murtala Muhammed Airport in Lagos. The early morning Abuja-bound Aero Contractors plane was set
for take-off at 6:45am when the flight was aborted because one of the engines
had stopped working.
There was panic inside the aircraft whose door had been
locked in readiness for take-off.
A woman shouted for the door to be open for her to disembark,
it was learnt.
A pastor of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG),
Olumide Adeleye, who was aboard the plane, relived the experience in Abuja
yesterday.
He said: “We had already boarded the plane scheduled for
6:45am. It was filled to capacity, ready for take-off when the pilot announced
that one of the engines had packed up. There was panic, but people also thanked
God that the engine did not fail in the air.
“A woman was just shouting ‘please open this door before I
break it!’. I was travelling with my wife and within me I was saying, ‘God it
is not my portion and that of my wife to die’. I immediately remembered the
Dana crash that happened, also on a Sunday. Fear
“The Murtala Muhammed International Airport , Lagos, was
thrown into confusion as some passengers were contemplating on refund of money.
Even when another airline was ready to fly, passengers were insisting that the
authority must properly check the plane, test-run it, before take-off.
“I booked the 6:45am flight so as to get early to church as
the pastor of my parish in Abuja, to preach and preside over the thanksgiving
service and dedicate a set of twins, which I did.
“I thank God for a successful journey back to Abuja. I was
just imagining what people would have been telling my children about their
father and mother.”
The airline said the action of the pilot was in order.
A spokesman of the airline, Mr. Simon Tumba yesterday said as
a safety curious carrier, the airline withdrew the aircraft to safeguard the
interest of the passengers and crew.
Tumba said such precautionary steps were necessary for the
safety of the passengers and crew, which is part of the routine in the safety
measures at the disposal of the airline.
Source: The Nation
There was panic inside the aircraft whose door had been locked in readiness for take-off.
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