NCAA Apologise for Aborted Abuja-Ibadan Flight

The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) said it regrets the incident of an aborted flight from Abuja to Ibadan last Friday.

Passengers had to be evacuated from the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja right before the Overland Airways flight took off, when a passenger onboard raised a false fire alarm.

“The air traffic incident at 16.27 UTC happened as the flight taxied to the holding position for take-off when a passenger on board raised an alarm that there was a fire smoke. The pilots were quick to respond to the situation as they opened the emergency exit and ensured that all passengers on board were evacuated.”

Witnesses revealed that the aircraft had been delayed from its scheduled takeoff of 4pm by engineers repairing some technical problems, when smoke started pouring out from the engine area.

A passenger then sounded the alarm and the pilot aborted the flight.

The NCAA, in its statement, assured the public that the situation was now under control.