512 Muslim Pilgrims Escape Death as Air Tragedy is Averted

A major air disaster was averted yesterday in Sokoto as a Boeing 747 belonging to Kabo Air Limited lost two of its tyres while landing at the Sir Abubakar III International Airport, Sokoto.

This is coming just as the country still continues to mourn the crash of an Embraer 120 plane which crashed on Thursday with the remains of Dr Olusegun Agagu , late Ondo State Governor, which killed 13 of the 20 people on board,

The plane, which was carrying 512 Muslim pilgrims to Saudi but billed to stop in Sokoto to pick up Aliyu Wamakko, state governor, his wife and some other passengers, was said to have suffered  burst tyres before ramming  into the Instrument Landing System (ILS), a navigational equipment installed at the airport

In a statement issued by the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), it stated that that the Boeing 747-3 aircraft with Reg 5N-JRM belonging to Kabo Air operated by Kabo airlines arrived safely with all passengers and crew on board, following a landing incident at the Sokoto airport at 2100 GMT.

“The aircraft which departed from Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport, Kano was en route Saudi Arabia when it had a stop-over at the Sokoto airport for passenger pickup.

Preliminary reports indicate that the control tower gave the pilot clearance to land on Runway 08 but the captain, opted to use Runway 26, for reasons yet to be ascertained.

“”The 512 souls on board, made of 494 passengers and 18 crew members landed safely.

The aircraft however damaged some Instruments Landing System (ILS) and came to a stop with deflated tyres.

“The FAAN emergency response apparatus acted swiftly to secure all souls on board and the aircraft.

The airline has since made arrangements for another aircraft to pick the passengers to complete their journey to Saudi Arabia.”

Alhaji Aminu Hamza,  the airline’s Public Relations Officer (PRO), refuted reports that the aircraft had an emergency landing, saying it only lost two of its tyres in the process of landing.

He  said there was no diversion as the aircraft was to pick additional 54 International passengers in Sokoto before the incident.

A statement by the management of the airline said in Kano that the aircraft in an attempt to land lost two of its rear tyres, but the pilot was able to control it to a safe parking.

Addressing reporters in Kano, the airline’s Public Relations Officer, Alhaji Aminu Hamza said that the chattered Boeing 747 jumbo jet, with 494 international passengers on-board took off from the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport on Friday night en-route Sokoto to Saudi Arabia.

He, however, refuted reports that the aircraft had an emergency landing. He insisted that there was no diversion as the aircraft was to pick additional 54 International passengers in Sokoto before the incident.

The Governor of Kebbi State, Saidu Dakingari and his wife, Zainab, were to board the aircraft with 48 other intending pilgrims from the state.

But the governor and his wife returned to Birnin Kebbi after the incident. The Special Assistant to Dakingari on Media, Ibrahim Argungu, confirmed the report to News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Birnin Kebbi.

According to him, “The governor and his wife, Zainab, had since returned to Birnin Kebbi, the state capital.’’

However, the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) said it is awaiting the Mandatory Occurrence Report from Kabo Air over the incidence.

According to the General Manager, Public Affairs, NCAA, Mr. Fan Nduuoke, the aircraft with Registration Number 5N-JRM, operated by Kabo Airlines arrived safely with all passengers and crew on board, following a landing incident at the Sokoto airport.

Kabo Air Director of Flight Operations, Captain Joseph Machinu confirmed that the aircraft just returned from Indonesia, where it underwent maintenance and air worthiness checks.

Captain Machinu, explained that all the passengers on board during the incident are safe, as no injury was recorded. He added that another aircraft has since been drafted to Sokoto to airlift the passengers to Saudi Arabia for this year’s hajj.

The NCAA spokesperson, said the aircraft which departed from Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport, Kano was en route Saudi Arabia when it had a stop-over at the Sokoto airport for passenger pickup.

Corroborating the account of the NCAA, the spokesman of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria ( FAAN), Mr Yakubu Dati said:”On October 4, 2013, a Boeing 747-3 aircraft with Reg 5N-JRM, operated by Kabo Airlines arrived safely with all passengers and crew on board, following a landing incident at the Sokoto airport at 2100 GMT.

“Preliminary reports indicate that the control tower gave the pilot clearance to land on Runway 08 but the captain, opted to use Runway 26, for reasons yet to be ascertained. The 512 souls on board, made of 494 passengers and 18 crew members landed safely.

“The aircraft however damaged some Instruments Landing System (ILS) and came to a stop with deflated tyres. The FAAN emergency response apparatus acted swiftly to secure all souls on board and the aircraft. The airline has since made arrangements for another aircraft to pick the passengers to complete their journey to Saudi Arabia.”

One of the passengers, Aliyu Abdullahi, a trader at Kwari Market in Kano, told NAN at Giginya Hotel yesterday that it was a terrifying experience.

“We heard an unusual sound as the plane landed at the Sokoto Airport.’’

Another passenger, Tijjani Jega, said he was shocked and that passengers prayed fervently. “We thank God that a major tragedy was averted.’’

The Acting Manager of the Sokoto Airport, Mr Madu Bukar, while thanking God, said the incident was common in the aviation industry, but that it would be investigated.

He, however, expressed happiness that nobody was injured in the incident.