AIB releases preliminary reports on Dana, Delta incidents

Maureen Ihua-Maduenyi

The Accident Investigation Bureau has released the preliminary report on the ongoing investigation into the incident involving Dana Air’s MD-83 aircraft that overran the runway at the Port Harcourt International Airport on February 20.

The bureau also released preliminary reports on Delta Airlines’ Airbus A330-223 aircraft, whose engine caught fire after take-off from the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos as well as the accident involving a Gulfstream G200 aircraft belonging to Nest Oil, which occurred at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja on January 25, 2018.

According to the AIB, the reports contain factual information on the three occurrences and not their probable causes as investigations are still ongoing.

“They include information gathered from witness statements and preliminary inspection of the aircraft and the accident sites. The three reports have been uploaded to the bureau’s website,” the AIB said in a statement signed by the General Manager, Public Affairs, Tunji Oketunbi, on Tuesday.

The bureau said its findings on Dana indicated that the runway was wet and the crew were certified and qualified to conduct the flight, while the first officer was the pilot flying and the captain took over control at about six nautical miles to touch down.

The AIB added that the aircraft was substantially damaged, the runway approach lights and landing aids were also damaged, while all persons on board were evacuated unhurt.

It stated, “The Dana Air MD-83, which took off from Abuja, had an uneventful flight to Port Harcourt and was cleared to land by the Air Traffic Control. The crew reported that the runway had experienced recent rain before arrival and after touch down, looked and felt contaminated with flood of water that did not drain well.

“Other findings include the fact that after the aircraft came to a complete stop, emergency evacuation was carried out using only the left forward main door and the escape slide on this door did not deploy just as the Public Address System did not work. The Airport Rescue and Fire Fighting Service arrived during the evacuation and all persons on board were evacuated unhurt.”

On Delta Airlines’ incident, the AIB said its findings indicated that the flight crew were certified and qualified to conduct the flight in accordance with applicable United States Federal Aviation Administration regulations, but that the number one engine fire warning came on about a minute after take-off, while the crew at 2252.25hrs contacted air traffic control and declared emergency.

The investigation on Nest Oil aircraft, according to the bureau, found that the departure, cruise and approach to the Abuja airport were uneventful, and the aircraft was cleared to land on runway 22 but lost directional control during the landing roll and veered off before resting on the right shoulder of the runway.

The Commissioner of AIB, Mr. Akin Olateru, stated that the reports were promptly released to enhance safety.

“We are seriously committed to releasing investigation reports on time. This is one way to ensure that such occurrences are prevented from repeating themselves and conform with the purpose of accident investigation,” he added.

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