The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has moved swiftly to dispel rumors circulating about a supposed crash-landing involving a Dana Air aircraft at the Murtala Muhammed Airport in Lagos.
Reacting to the incident which occurred on Tuesday morning, Mr. Mike Achimugu, the Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection at NCAA, refuted claims of a crash-landing, clarifying that the event was a runway excursion.
“The occurrence that affected a McDonald Douglas (MD-83) with registration 5N-BKI is not an accident. It is a runway excursion,” stated Achimugu.
He further emphasized that officials from the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) were already on-site to investigate the incident thoroughly. Achimugu stressed that the images of the incident would corroborate the fact that it was a runway excursion, categorizing it as a “serious incident” rather than an accident.
Aviation management consultant, Mr. Babatunde Adeniji, echoed similar sentiments, elucidating the distinction between a runway incursion and a runway excursion.
“A runway incursion is when an aircraft or vehicle that should not be on the runway enters the runway. A runway excursion is when an aircraft veers off or overruns the runway. Today’s mishap was a runway excursion,” explained Adeniji.
He cautioned against speculation in aviation incidents, underscoring the importance of waiting for the official investigative reports. Adeniji highlighted the high-speed nature of aircraft take-offs and landings, emphasizing that even minor errors or surface skids could lead to unexpected outcomes.
The swift response and clarification from the NCAA aim to provide reassurance to the public and stakeholders in the aviation industry. As investigations into the runway excursion progress, authorities remain committed to ensuring the safety and security of air travel in Nigeria.