Lagos: Pilot averts crash, lands with one engine

A Medview Airlines’ pilot on Sunday landed a Boeing 737-400 plane with only one functional engine at the Lagos airport, a few minutes after the aircraft lost its other engine at 21,000 feet above sea level.

A technical fault led to the loss of one engine and forced the pilot of the Abuja-bound plane carrying 74 passengers to make an air return.

The plane, however, landed safely at the Runway 18L of the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos.

Findings revealed that the incident happened about 15 minutes after the plane took off on Sunday afternoon.

Before the loss, it was gathered that there was a big bang in one of the two engines of the Boeing 737-400 plane.

The reason for the loss of the engine is still unclear as at press time on Sunday.

However, a team of investigators from the airline and the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority have commenced investigations into the cause of the incident.

The spokesman of NCAA, Mr. Sam Adurogboye, confirmed the development. Adurogboye, in text message to our correspondent, said, “Medview Airlines today had an air return of its Lagos to Abuja flight 214. The aircraft, a Boeing 737-400 series marked 5N-BPA with 74 passengers on board; flying 21,000 feet heard a loud bang on engine number two and immediate loss of thrust on same engine. As such, the pilot took a safety precautionary measure: shut down the engine, returned to base and landed safely with one engine.

“The passengers were, thereafter, transferred to another of its aircraft, a Boeing 737-800 series and flown to Abuja safely. Medview Airlines’ ground engineers and their Turkish maintenance firm, Technic engineers, are looking at the plane for proper rectification and recertification by the NCAA, thereafter.”

The General Manager, Medview, Mr. David Babatunde, also confirmed the development. He, however, explained, “The aircraft departed to Yola via Abuja. At about 15 minutes into the flight, there was an engine surge. The captain took safety precautionary measure and landed safely back at the Lagos airport. The passengers were immediately accommodated in another aircraft, which took off for Yola via Abuja.”

Similarly, the Special Assistant (Media) to the Minister of Aviation, Mr. Joe Obi, said in a statement, “A Medview aircraft 737-400 with registration number 5N BPA from Lagos-Abuja-Yola earlier today made an air return to Lagos about 15 minutes after take-off.

“The plane had taken off at 12noon. The pilot of the aircraft, who noticed a surge in one of the engines, immediately applied the necessary safety precautionary measure by returning the aircraft to base.”

PUNCH