Lagos, Nigeria – A potentially serious incident was avoided on Thursday morning when an Ibom Airlines flight from Lagos to Abuja was grounded before takeoff due to a landing gear issue.
Dr. Joe Abah, a former Director-General of the Bureau of Public Service Reforms, recounted the experience on his social media platform. Abah stated that the aircraft was ready for departure when a ground engineer raised concerns about faulty landing gear. The pilot prioritized safety by disembarking all passengers for further inspection.
Commendation for Engineer’s Alertness
Abah commended the ground engineer’s attentiveness and the established safety protocols that prevented a possible accident. He urged the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) to assist in identifying the engineer for proper recognition.
Ibom Airlines Confirms Technical Issue and Rescheduling
Ibom Airlines spokesperson, Annie Essienette, confirmed the technical issue and assured passengers that the flight would be rescheduled. The faulty landing gear will be repaired before the rescheduled flight takes place.
Incident Follows Dana Air Suspension
This incident follows the Nigerian government’s suspension of Dana Air operations on Wednesday due to safety concerns. The suspension came after a Dana Air aircraft skidded off the runway at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos.