There was panic at the Kaduna airport in Kaduna State on Sunday when a IRS Airlines flight from Lagos had to make an emergency landing.
The pilot of the aircraft, with 99 passengers and crew members on board, was said to have called for an emergency landing when he received on approach to landing a low hydraulic warning.
The airport’s control tower had to grant the request quickly and putting on notice the relevant units at the airport, especially the Fire Service.
The aircraft landed successfully but could not make it to the point of disembarking.
It stopped in the middle of the runway where passengers had to disembark and the aircraft towed to the apron.
Passengers were said to have scampered out of the aircraft.
The airline, in a statement by its Managing Director, Yemi Dada, confirmed the development.
Dada said: “In final approach to Kaduna today on our flight 3390 with 89 passengers, our cockpit crew got a low hydraulic in system 1 warning and decided to take precautionary measures to ask for ground confirmation that all gears were down and locked.”
The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority also confirmed the development.
It however said the incident was being blown out of proportion.
A statement by the Director General of the NCAA, Captain Fola Akinkuotu, said: “An aircraft F. 100 with Reg no 5N-HIR , operated by IRS Airline landed safely, following a hydraulic leakage on the runway of kaduna airport today, October 13, 2013.
“NCAA directed the airline to tow the aircraft to the apron and Accident Investigation Prevention Bureau, AIPB has commenced investigation into the incident.
“The NCAA wishes to assure all air travellers of their safety and caution against magnifying a manageable incident out of proportion.”
The incident is coming a few weeks after the crash of an Associated Airlines aircraft on a flight from Lagos to Akure.
Fifteen persons died in the crash.
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