An Air Peace aircraft heading from Abuja to Asaba narrowly escaped tragedy on Friday after one of its engines allegedly malfunctioned while preparing for departure at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.
The situation unfolded shortly after the plane had sped up on the runway when a loud explosion was heard, followed by flashes of light. Luckily, there was no fire incident.
The pilot quickly halted the take-off and steered the aircraft back to the terminal, where all passengers were safely evacuated.
Witnesses recounted moments of fear and relief, with some passengers offering prayers and songs of gratitude once the plane came to a stop.
Reports revealed that one passenger stated that the pilot responded promptly and with professionalism.
“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.
At the time of this report, Air Peace had not released an official statement, though airport sources confirmed engineers were examining the plane to identify the cause of the fault.
No casualties or damage were recorded, and the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) is expected to conduct an investigation in compliance with aviation safety procedures.
