Drama As Air Peace Flight Aborts Take-Off In Abuja After Engine Failure
An Air Peace flight bound for Asaba narrowly escaped disaster on Friday when one of its engines reportedly failed during take-off preparations at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja.
The incident occurred moments after the aircraft had accelerated on the runway when a loud bang was heard, accompanied by flashes of light. Fortunately, there was no fire outbreak.
The pilot immediately aborted the take-off and safely taxied the aircraft back to the terminal, where all passengers were calmly disembarked.
Eyewitnesses described scenes of panic and relief, with some passengers breaking into prayers and songs of thanksgiving after the plane came to a stop.
One passenger told Zagazola Makama that the pilot acted swiftly and professionally.
“We had gained full speed on the runway when we suddenly heard a loud bang. The plane shook slightly, and there was a flash. The pilot then calmly announced there had been an engine failure and that we were returning to the terminal,” the passenger said.
As of the time of filing this report, Air Peace had yet to issue an official statement, though sources at the airport confirmed that engineers were inspecting the aircraft to determine the cause of the malfunction.
No injuries or damage were reported, and the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) is expected to launch an investigation in line with aviation safety standards.