Abuja-bound plane in emergency return to Lagos …… NATION

Medview-Airlines

An Abuja-bound Medview Airlines’ Boeing aircraft with scores of passengers on board yesterday morning made an air return to the Murtala Muhammed Airport , Ikeja, Lagos, as the aircraft developed pressurisation problem about 8,000 feet above sea level.

The problem, it was learnt, affected the cooling system of the aircraft.

A source close to the airline, in a Short Message Service (SMS), said: “Abuja-bound Medview Airline aircraft made air return this morning (yesterday). At about 8,000 feet altitude, it developed a pressurisation problem, which affected the cooling system. The pilot properly briefed the passengers and landed safely. There was no panic. Another aircraft was made available and passengers were flown to Abuja.”

Air return is a standard safety procedure when pilots return to the airport where the aircraft took off from, if there is any observation of technical issues with the aircraft.

According to aviation sources, the air return by the Medview’s pilot was considered as a standard operating procedure to get the aircraft to safety, rather than continuing with the flight.

In a telephone interview, Medview’s Managing Director Alhaji Muneer Bankole confirmed the incident.

Bankole said as an airline driven by safety, the crew took the professional decision rather than continuing with the flight.

He said the airline “immediately provided another aircraft for the passenger to return to Abuja after they disembarked from the airplane that made air return”.

Bankole said the airline has started steps to fix the aircraft.

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