By Nneka Nwogwugwu
Air crash was averted after Air Peace aircraft from Abuja “disembarked safely” when one of the plane’s tyres blew off after landing at the Ilorin Airport in Kwara.
Sixty-six passengers and six crew members were onboard on the plane.
Punch gathered that the incident happened on Friday at 10:30am while the B737-500 aircraft with registration number 5N-BQR was taxiing to the parking bay at the airport.
No one was reportedly injured during the incident and no life was lost.
Spokesperson for Air Peace, Stanley Olise, said that “as we speak, the tyre has been fixed and the aircraft has been moved from the runway.
“Our officials reported the incident to the authorities as statutorily required,” he added.
However, the airline debunked reports that its plane crashed at the airport.
“Our aircraft neither crashed nor crash-landed in Ilorin or in any place for that matter.
“Air Peace is committed to providing peaceful connectivity across cities and relentlessly observes the highest standards of safety in its operations.”
Also, Accident Investigation Bureau General Manager, Public Affairs, Tunji Oketumbi, noted that the investigating body in charge of all aviation-related accidents and incidents in Nigeria, confirmed that the incident occurred but said there was no plane crash.
