The Accident Investigation Bureau (AIB) Thursday clarified that Air Peace’s recent tyre burst incident was experienced during taxiing at the Murtala Muhammed Airport.
The clarification also aligns with the explanation offered by the airline, which dismissed a report that one of its aircrafts, a B737 plane with registration number 5N-BUQ, had a tyre burst on landing in Lagos on Monday night.
The airline explained that contrary to insinuation, the aircraft landed safely at the International Wing of the airport, but while taxiing to the domestic wing, the aircraft had a tyre puncture which cause is yet to be ascertained.
The explanation was contained in a statement issued by the spokesman of the airline, Stanley Olisa.
He said “The incident, which occurred at about 12 minutes of taxing and very close to the Domestic Wing, was duly reported to the authorities.
“Passengers disembarked seamlessly and the incident is currently being investigated as statutorily required.
“We, therefore, take exception to reports implying that the aircraft had a tyre burst on landing, as this is conveying a wrong impression about the airline to the flying public. If the tyre had burst on landing, the aircraft would not have moved 2 km from the International Wing to the Domestic Wing,” he said.
AIB had initially said it was investigating the matter but it recanted on Thursday, explaining that a download of the aircraft’s Flight Data Recorder (FDR) and Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR) revealed that the aircraft experienced a burst tyre during taxiing.
General Manager, Public Affairs of AIB, Mr. Tunji Oketunbi in a statement disclosed that the bureau had ceded the investigation to the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA).
He said, “We refer to the occurrence involving a Boeing 737-300 aircraft with nationality and registration marks 5N-BUQ, operated by Air Peace Ltd, which occurred at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos on Monday, March 8, 2021.
“Initial findings made by the Accident Investigation Bureau, Nigeria (AIB-N) following a download of the aircraft’s Flight Data Recorder (FDR) and Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR) revealed that the aircraft experienced a burst tyre during taxing.
“As the occurrence falls under the category of incident, AIB-N has therefore ceded the investigation to the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA). Further enquiries on this occurrence should be addressed to the NCAA forthwith.”
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