Disaster Averted! Aero Aircraft Carrying 120 Develops Fault Mid-Air

120 passengers and crew can count themselves extremely lucky as they
averted a potential disaster after an Aero Contractors flight from Lagos to Kaduna developed a technical malfunction mid-air yesterday evening. It is reported that the plane suddenly lost altitude 20 minutes into the flight forcing the aircraft to wobble in the air for about an hour before eventually making a landing in Abuja.

According to a passenger, Director, Muslim Rights Concern, Prof.Ishaq Akintola, per Punch Newspaper, 20 minutes into the flight, the aircraft lost altitude and the passengers had to make use of the oxygen masks as the plane continued to wobble, while dropping steadily. Akintola 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.”

Akintola praised the crew for their calm and professionalism during the situation and said that they announced that the plane would be diverted to Abuja.

He said, “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,” Akintola added in messages to New Mail. Akintola said, “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.”

Crazy stuff! While we’re certainly glad a terrible plane crash was avoided, we’ll hope that the FAA will look into exactly the cause of the malfunction mid-air.