Posted by By MOSHOOD ADEBAYO, Abeokuta on
It was providence that averted another air mishap in the country on Monday, as an aircraft belonging to a private airline, Aero Contractor developed engine problems shortly after take-off from Lagos and was forced to return to the tarmac after fruitless efforts by the pilot to manage the situation.
It was providence that averted another air mishap in the country on Monday, as an aircraft belonging to a private airline, Aero Contractor developed engine problems shortly after take-off from Lagos and was forced to return to the tarmac after fruitless efforts by the pilot to manage the situation.
The plane was said to have left the Domestic Terminal at about 8.00p.m. on Easter Monday for the Federal Capital Territory amidst complaints by some members of staff who earlier sensed danger about the flight.
Flight 5207 which took off at about 8.00p.m. for Abuja had on board the Minister for Mines and Steel Development, Alhaji Sarafa Tunji Isola, Professor Babatunde Osotimehin of the National Action Aids Council (NACA), Chief Abiola Ogundokun and Chief Uche, the national organizing secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Daily Sun reliably gathered that although the plane had developed technical problems before it took off, the pilot and some engineers of the airline had thought that it could make it to the Federal Capital Territory .
'Some of us got hints that the aircraft had some problems, but we never thought it was a major one until the aircraft was airborne," an aide to one of the passengers, who spoke on condition of anonymity told Daily Sun. Continuing, the sources said: 'It was when the problems persisted about 38 kilometers away from Lagos that it dawned on us that we were in for trouble. It was the grace of God and prayers that made the pilot to agree to make a detour to Lagos when it became apparent that it could not make it to Abuja. "
After a successful landing in Lagos at about 8:35p, Daily Sun learnt that another aircraft was provided for the passengers some of whom were said to have hesitated to join the plane.
Among those who eventually made the trip to Abuja at about 10.03p.m were the minister, the (NACA) boss, Ogundokun and the PDP secretary, who were said to have remained calm through the confusion.
Some of the passengers expressed disgust at the development but, however, expressed gratitude to God that the pilot did not only used his professional judgment, but listened to words of reason from other crew members.
'We are grateful to God for a safe landing after the initial problems. We also want to commend the professional judgment of the pilot who thought it wise to return to Lagos rather than continued the journey that only God knows where it could have ended.
It will be recalled that a Beechcraft 1900 D operated by Wings Airline disappeared from the airspace penultimate week and has since not been found