Airline, FAAN react
Ethiopian Airline’s Flight ET 901 operated with a Boeing 777-300 which former President Olusegun Obasanjo and 392 other passengers were flying to Lagos engaged in a mis-approach at Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) Runway today, May 29 causing panic on board the aircraft.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the among the 393 passengers on the airplane that plane that took off from Bole International Airport, Addis Ababa were Director of Ports Inspection, National Agency For Food And Drug Administration And Control (NAFDAC), Prof Samson Tunde Adebayo, Director General of Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA) Ambassador Ayoola Olukanni.
Former President Obasanjo had attended a Stakeholders Dialogue on Continental Trade and Strengthening Implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA) which ended on Tuesday in Addis Ababa.
According to reports the 5-hour flight from Addis Ababa to Lagos had been uneventful until the pilot attempted to land at the Murtala Muhammed International airport where he made a false landing, due to rain and heavy wind, landing on the third touch-line.
The pilot manoeuvred the aircraft and in an attempt to re land the plane causing panic in the cabin, however, he plane landed in Lagos airport, some 20 minutes after the initial aborted landing.
It would be recalled that former President Obasanjo who was among the dignitaries billed to attend the inauguration of President Muhammadu Buhari’s second term in office, held today at the Eagle Square Abuja was absent from the ceremony.
Meanwhile management of Ethiopian Airlines and Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria have reacted to the incident.
Ethiopian Airlines said its pilot on the Flight ET 901 encountered bad weather while trying to land at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA).
It explained that this caused him to make a go round before landing safely.
A statement signed by General manager, Ethiopian Airlines in Nigeria, Firihiewot Mekonnen read: “Ethiopian Flight (ET 901/29 MAY) which departed from Addis Ababa on its way to Lagos had encountered bad weather during landing and made a go-around the airport for better and smooth landing, according to the procedure.
“On a second attempt, it made a safe and normal landing. According to safety standard, pilots are encouraged to make a similar go-around in such cases. However; some media incorrectly reported this standard safety precautionary go-around.
Similarly The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) confirmed the incident and said the flight, which tried to land at about 1157hours had earlier mis-approached due to bad weather and immediately went up to position properly for landing.
In a statement signed by its General Manager Corporate Communications, Henrientta Yakubu, the airport authority stated that the aircraft landed safely at exactly 1213hours and parked at gate E63.
FAAN also confirmed that the Ethiopian flight had departed Lagos for Addis Ababa at 1351hours.
