Air Peace Makes Emergency Landing At The Lagos Airport — NCAA To Inspect All Local Carriers
THE Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, or NCAA, will conduct a thorough audit of all domestic airlines operating in the nation, according to a statement from the federal government.
In addition to Dana Airlines' suspension and ongoing audit, all other carriers in the nation will undergo audits to ensure passenger safety and the health of the civil aviation sector, according to a statement made on Thursday, April 25 by Festus Keyamo, Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development.
Keyamo has faced criticism in the past 24 hours for what some watchdogs in civil aviation have called outside meddling with the NCAA's independence.
The aviation minister ordered the NCAA to suspend Dana Airlines on Wednesday, April 24, citing recent incidents involving the local carrier as grave concerns about the safety and operational sustainability.
He declared that the airline should be shut down until a thorough examination was completed, a decision that NCAA Director General Chris Najomo promptly put into effect.
He remarked that until a thorough audit is conducted, the airline should be grounded. NCAA Director General Chris Najomo promptly put this into effect.
The airline Dana Air was suspended around twenty-four hours after one of its aircrafts skidded off the runway at the Lagos airport.
Subsequently, certain stakeholders urged Keyamo to respect the regulator's autonomy, stating that the minister was incorrect to order the NCAA to stop an airline.
Keyamo, however, chastised his detractors, claiming that he is legally authorized to order the NCAA to act appropriately when it came to questions of state security.
The minister contended that the airline is not in good health because of a string of events that occurred two years ago.
“Let those aviation experts take their wives and children to board that airline that was declared unsafe,” said a furious Keyamo.
“Would Nigerians have preferred that I keep quiet and be part of the cartel, all in the name of I am not supposed to interfere? What am I doing as minister?” he queried.
“We wish to inform the flying public of an incident that occurred during our Port Harcourt-Lagos flight P47193 of today, April 25, 2024.
“Some minutes before landing, our Captain noticed a fire warning indicator in the cockpit. The pilots performed all safety precautionary measures, and the fire indicator went off. The Captain immediately notified our Operations Control Centre in Lagos at 17:37 hrs.
“It was determined upon landing that the alarm was falsely triggered as there was no fire event. The aircraft landed safely, and all passengers disembarked normally.
“We want to reassure the flying public that safety remains our utmost priority, and we are unwavering in our commitment to it.”
Regarding the duration of the Dana Airlines audit, he stated, “It can be as quick as possible. Like I said, do the right thing, return to business. We must do the right things for the safety of Nigerians. Not only them (Dana Airlines), we will carry an audit of all of them, all of them. Let Nigerians be safe when they fly our airlines.”
A fire warning indicator in the cockpit of an Air Peace aircraft carrying passengers from Port Harcourt caused the pilots to make an emergency landing at the Murtala Muhammed Airport in Lagos on the same Thursday.
The plane carrying 243 passengers and 12 crew members, operated by Air Peace, made a safe landing on Runway 18L of the Lagos airport at 4:45 p.m.
Firefighting crews reported seeing smoke coming from the aircraft's engines, so the pilots quickly turned them off.
The aircraft's call sign is APK7193.
Air Peace said in a statement that it was subsequently found that the fire alert that was detected in the cockpit was not real.
“Notification of false fire alarm on Port Harcourt-Lagos flight" was the title of the statement.
It said, “We wish to inform the flying public of an incident that occurred during our Port Harcourt-Lagos flight P47193 of today, April 25, 2024.
“Some minutes before landing, our Captain noticed a fire warning indicator in the cockpit. The pilots performed all safety precautionary measures, and the fire indicator went off. The Captain immediately notified our Operations Control Centre in Lagos at 17:37 hrs.
“It was determined upon landing that the alarm was falsely triggered as there was no fire event. The aircraft landed safely, and all passengers disembarked normally.
“We want to reassure the flying public that safety remains our utmost priority, and we are unwavering in our commitment to it.”
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