Barley five days after it narrowly escaped crash due to losing one tyre at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, Qatar Airways was weekend hit by bird strike at Muritala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos.
In a statement issued by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) image maker, Mr. Sam Adurogboye,he blamed the air return made by a aircraft in Lagos on a bird strike.
According to him, one of the engines of the aircraft was affected in the incident which happened on February 9.
Experts say bird strike is a collision between a bird and an aircraft which is in flight or on a takeoff or landing roll.
One of the passengers on board the plane had said the pilot was already cleared for take-off when suddenly a loud sound was heard.
But Adurogboye said the incident did not create any damage, adding that the aircraft recommenced the operation hours later.
“The Qatar Airways Airbus A330 with Registration number A7 – AED, Flight no.1408 scheduled operation from Lagos to Doha, received a push back to take off from the MMIA at 14.45hrs UTC.
“On board were 256 passengers and 10 crew members.
“At 16.18hrs UTC, the pilot-in-command (PIC) made an air return to MMIA. He took this decision after the aircraft suffered bird strike in flight.
“The bird strike hit the No.1 engine. On its safe return to MMIA, diligent inspection was carried out on the aircraft. However, finding disclosed no damage.”
While commending the lead Pilot for the bravery and adhering to the standard and recommended practices (SARPs) by undertaking an air return, NCAA assured Nigerians that the agency would continue to “ensure robust safety oversight” of the industry for safe and secure air transportation.
Bird strike had been a recurring decimal in the nation’s airport few years back when monitoring structures were put in place.
