- Safiu Kehinde
Nigerian private-owned airline, Air Peace, has confirmed the near mishap involving one of its aircrafts which suffered engine failure on runway.
NPO Reported that the incident which occured on Friday at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, had seen scores of passengers escaped death after the Asaba-bound aircraft suffered an engine failure while preparing for take-off.
The scary incident occured moment the aircraft had fully gained speed and was almost closing in on the runway for take-off.
A loud blast was suddenly heard, followed by flashes of light.
Fortunately, there was no fire outbreak as the pilot immediately aborted the take-off procedure and taxied the aircraft safely back to the terminal, where all passengers were safely disembarked.
Confirming the incident in a statement issued on Friday evening, Air Peace management disclosed that the flight was aborted in compliance with safety protocol.
A replacement aircraft was reportedly deployed to continue the flight while the affected aircraft was grounded for inspection by engineers.
Air Peace expressed its gratitude to the passengers for their cooperation and trust in the airline.
It reassured the public of its commitment to safety.
The statement read; “Air Peace confirms that the Abuja—Asaba flight scheduled for today experienced an aborted take-off during initial departure procedures.
“In full accordance with safety protocols, the aircraft safely returned to the ramp, and all passengers disembarked without incident.
“A replacement aircraft was immediately deployed to continue the flight, ensuring minimal disruption to passenger travel time.
“Our engineering team commenced a thorough inspection of the initial aircraft as part of our standard safety checks.
“We wish to reassure the public that safety is, and will always remain the cornerstone of our operations.
“The swift deployment of an alternate aircraft reflects our commitment to operational excellence and passenger confidence.
“We thank our esteemed passengers for their calm cooperation and continued trust in Air Peace.”