Breaking: Air Peace aircraft makes emergency landing, loses nose wheel

A Boeing 737 aircraft with registration number 5N-BQO, carrying 133 passengers and 6 crew members on board, has made an emergency landing at the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos.

The aircraft, which belongs to Nigeria’s burgeoning airline, Air Peace, was flying into to Lagos from Port Harcourt, TW has gathered.

The pilot was said to have made a distress call to the control tower on approach to the runway before the aircraft crash-landed.

Although the aircraft reportedly lost its nose wheel, no passenger or crew member onboard the flight was hurt.

In a statement signed by the Chief Operating Officer, Air Peace, Toying Olajide, the airline commended the pilot, Captain Simisola Ajibola and her crew for averting a fatal crash.

It said, “Captain Ajibola noticed sudden weather changes when approaching Lagos and demanded to land on the International runway as it is longer and wider than the domestic runway.

After landing safely and rolling to the runway exit, the nose gear developed a problem and had a partial collapse.

The crew notified the airport authorities who quickly ensured the safe disembarkation of the passengers via the passenger door.”

The Accident Investigation Bureau has acknowledged that it received notification of the incident from Air Peace at 11: 28 AM and has since commenced an investigation to determine the cause.

“Our team of safety investigators has commenced investigations. As the investigating agency, AIB needs and hereby solicits for your help. We want the public to know that we would be amenable to receiving any video clip, relevant evidence, or information any members of the public may have of the accident; that can assist us with this investigation,” said the Bureau’s Commissioner, Engr. Akin Olateru. 

He, however, cautioned that no one should pre-empt cause of the incident without verifiable facts.

“I will like to enjoin the Press and the public, to respect the privacy of the people involved and NOT to pre-empt the cause of the accident,” he said.