Two weeks after Dana Air was shut down by the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authorities, another aircraft belonging to XEJET Airlines also skidded off the runway and landed in the grass at the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos on Saturday, the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau, NSIB, has confirmed.
Following the incident which happened at 11:29 AM, the
Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, FAAN, has shut the Runway 18L of the
Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos.
BrandIconImage also learnt that the aircraft, with
registration 5N-BZZ, had 52 passengers on board, just as a fire and rescue team
were on the ground to help in the evacuation of the passengers.
Confirming the incident, NSIB said: “An aircraft belonging
to XeJet Airline skidded off the runway at the domestic wing of Murtala
Mohammed Airport this morning. A go team has been deployed to the site of the
incident.”
Meanwhile, last month, Dana MD-82 aircraft was involved in a
runway excursion incident that resulted in the Minister of Aviation and
Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, ordering the suspension of the carrier
for a comprehensive auditing.
After calling for the airline’s suspension, Keyamo had said:
“The last thing I want to happen to me as Aviation Minister is to have blood on
my hands.
“I mean the blood of innocent Nigerians caused by negligence
or deep complicity of those who are supposed to be regulators of the aviation
industry.
“As minister, my job is to supervise them, and to ensure
they carry out their duties. My job is not to regulate.”