Air Peace pilot aborts Lagos-bound flight after fire alarm

A Lagos-bound Air Peace plane on Saturday made an air return some minutes after taking off from the Port Harcourt International Airport, according to an official.

Mr Sam Adurogboye, the General Manager, Public Relations, Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), confirmed the incident in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos.

Adurogboye said an alarm was raised about fire in the cabin which forced the pilot to make the air return.

“The flight crew did the right thing by returning to base to check the situation,’’ he said.

The NCAA spokesman, however, said the aircraft did not crash land, adding that there was no panic as the pilot properly briefed the passengers before landing safely.

“Air return is a precautionary flight safety procedure that must be adopted in the event of a snag.

“The pilot acted according to Standard and Recommended Practices (SARPs),’’ Adurogboye said.

He also reiterated the NCAA’s commitment to safety of Nigeria’s aviation sector.

NAN leant that another aircraft was later provided to convey the passengers to Lagos.