The Aero Contractors horror that was averted

Over 120 passengers looked death in the face and survived when an Aero Contractors Flight 180 flying Lagos to Kaduna developed a fault midair.

The Director of the Muslim Rights Concern, MURIC, Prof. Ishaq Akintola, who broke the news, was one of the passengers.

According to reports gathered, the aircraft suddenly lost altitude, 20 minutes after it departed the domestic wing of the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos.

This development forced the aircraft to wobble in the air for over one hour before it was eventually diverted to Abuja.

Akintola narrated the events in detail to New Mail.

According to him, 20 minutes into the flight which took off 6.30pm, the aircraft lost altitude and the passengers had to make use of the oxygen masks as the plane continued to wobble, while dropping steadily.

He said:

“The plane lost altitude 20 minutes after takeoff. We had to make use of the oxygen masks. We saw smoke outside the plane, probably coming from the engine compartment.

At this time, the whole plane was thrown into commotion.

Many passengers screamed and some fainted. Prayers upon prayers were offered. Some shouted Allah, others Jesus.

While the pilot was making the announcement of the flight diversion, I noticed that his voice was trembling. He told us that Abuja was 120 miles away and that we would land in 25 minutes. But we were not sure we would make it.

In fact, I quickly recited the Kalimah (the Quranic invocation of the oneness of Allah), believing that the end had come.

The plane finally touched down in Abuja at about 9.00pm and upon landing in Abuja, officials of the airline told the passengers that the fault would be hurriedly repaired and that the plane would proceed to take them to Kaduna, their original destination. I could not risk being flown in the same aircraft that was divinely saved from crashing.

As I am talking to you, I am now in a taxi taking me to Kaduna. They said they wanted to repair the plane and that we should wait so it takes us to Kaduna. Allah forbids.

They asked how many of us wanted to disembark and almost everybody came out.”

A statement by the airline said:

"Aero confirms that there was depressurisation in the aircraft cabin leading to the dropping of oxygen mask. And since Aero has a maintenance facility in Abuja, the flight to Kaduna was diverted to Abuja this evening to fix the problem.”