Dana Air plane skids off runway in Port Harcourt
Dana Air plane last night skidded off the runway while landing at the Port Harcourt International Airport, Omagwa in Rivers State.
Passengers were evacuated by Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) emergency officials. There was no casualty.
The FAAN attributed the incident to a downpour accompanied by a strong wind and storm.
Flight number 9J0363 took off from Abuja.
A statement by FAAN General Manager (Corporate Affairs) Mrs Henrietta Yakubu said : “A Dana aircraft numbered 9J0363 flying from Abuja to Port Harcourt airport has overshot the Port Harcourt runway.
“The incident was suspected to have been caused by a heavy rain, which was accompanied by strong wind and storm in Port Harcourt.
“No casualty was recorded, as all passengers on board were safely evacuated.”
Dana Air, in a statement, attributed bad weather occasioned by torrential rain.
Corporate Communications Manager Kingsley Ezenwa Okwudili said:” On Tuesday , 20 February 2018, one our aircraft (9j0363) operating the Abuja- Ph flight skidded off the runway at the Port Harcourt International Airport, as a result of the bad weather situation and torrential rain at the time of landing.
“No casualty was recorded and all passengers and crew disembarked safely.
“We commend the Pilot-in -command who was able to control the aircraft to a complete stop, before passengers and crew disembarked. We also wish to applaud the Captain for exhibiting the highest safety standards and handling the situation professionally. ”
There were 49 passengers on board.
Dana Airlines Limited operating as Dana Air is a fully private sector-owned carrier. The airline commenced flight operations on November 10, 2008.
From its hub at the Murtala Mohammed Airport Terminal 2 (MMA2), Dana Air operates on the Lagos – Abuja; Lagos – Port Harcourt, Lagos – Uyo as well as the Port Harcourt – Abuja and Uyo – Abuja routes using its fleet of Boeing McDonnell 83 and Boeing B737-500 aircraft.
It runs a daily Lagos-Accra international route
Dana also undertakes scheduled flight operations in addition to offering executive charter services, using a brand new Bombardier Learjet 45XR.
On June 3, 2012, Dana Air Flight 992 travelling from Port Harcourt to Lagos, operating on McDonnell Douglas MD-83 aircraft, crashed into a furniture works and printing press building in the Iju-Ishaga neighbourhood of Lagos.
All 153 people on board and 10 more on the ground died.
