TheCable

A ValueJet CRJ 900 bombardier aircraft on Tuesday skidded off the runway at the Port-Harcourt International Airport in Rivers state, sending passengers into a brief panic. 

The aircraft had 62 passengers and five flight crew aboard.

Although some of the passengers sustained injuries, there was no casualty from the incident that happened at about 3;30 p.m.

A statement from the airline said the plane skidded off the runway after landing on algae.

“The CRJ 900 Bombardier aircraft with registration 5N-BXR landed safely with passengers wondering what could have happened because the airplane landed safely without difficulty,” the statement reads.

“The minor incident happened at about 3.30 pm at the Port-Harcourt International Airport.

“Captain Stanley Balami reported that the aircraft encountered a slip due to algae on the taxiway which made it unable to maintain the centre line. 

“ValueJet remains a safe airline and all the airline’s operations are normal without glitch.” 

Over the past few weeks, Nigeria’s aviation sector has experienced two plane accidents.

On Sunday, an incident involving a Boeing 737 Jet with registration number 5N-BYQ owned by Aero Contractors Airlines, crash-landed at the Nnamdi Azikiwe international airport in Abuja.

Last week, a private HS25B aircraft operated by Flint Aero also crash-landed in Ibadan, Oyo state’s capital.