Another air disaster was averted on Sunday as a plane belonging to IRS Airline made an emergency landing in Kaduna.
It was reported that the aircraft’s hydraulic system developed a problem thereby forcing the pilot to take a precautionary measure by asking ground control to confirm that all gears were down and locked. The IRS plane 3390 was carrying 89 passengers from Lagos to Kaduna.

With 89 passengers on board, the aircraft on successful landing had to disembark passengers on the runway and not taxi to parking place “in accordance with the procedure”.

“The front tyres didn’t come out on time and the pilot had to land the plane without its tyres out,” howthere was no casualty” An airport source said.

Reacting to the incident , The Managing Director of IRS, Mr Yemi Dada said “ On 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 and the aircraft landed normally after the control tower had confirmed that the gears were all down normally.

The crew proceeded to land but followed procedure to disembark on the runway and not taxi in accordance with the procedure.”
“All passengers disembarked normally and the aircraft was towed to ramp. The maintenance crew are inspecting to confirm the issue that caused the warning to the crew. Updates will follow shortly“.

However, some of the passengers who spoke to Newsmen said they were alarmed at the sudden drop in altitude as the plane began preparing to land in Kaduna.

An airport source who pleaded anonymity said all the crew and passengers were safely evacuated, adding however that it was a terrible situation.  Security has been beefed at the airport and journalists were barred from entering the airport as the time of filing this report.

This incident is coming few days after Associated Aviation plane carrying the body of the former governor of Ondo State, Chief Segun Agagu and 20 others crashed 31 seconds after take-off from the Murtala Mohammed Airport, MMA, Lagos runway killing 15 of the 20 people.