Dana Aircraft Overshoots PH Runway, Heads Into Bush

A Dana aircraft overshot the runway while landing at Port Harcourt international airport in River State on Tuesday.

An aircraft overshoots the runway when it moves past a specified point unintentionally.

The aircraft, which reportedly flew in from Nnamdi Azikiwe international airport, Abuja, ended up in the bush.

Passengers were reportedly evacuated from the bush.

The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) confirmed the development, saying no one sustained injury in the incident.

“A Dana aircraft numbered 9J0363, flying from Abuja to Port Harcourt airport has overshot the Port Harcourt runway,” The General Manager, Corporate Affairs, FAAN, Mrs. Henrietta Yakubu, said in a statement.

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The incident was suspected to have been caused by  heavy rain, which was accompanied by strong wind and storm in Port Harcourt.

“No casualty was recorded, as all passengers on board were safely evacuated.”

Mr Sam Adurogboye, General Manager, Public Relations, Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), also confirmed the incident to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

He said the aircraft was partially damaged after it overshot the runway.

“I learnt the runway has been closed but it will be reopened before the next 30 minutes after inspection has been carried out on it.

“Forty-nine passengers were on board and safely evacuated. The aircraft came in from Abuja to Port Harcourt, “he said

Since its last crash on 3 June 2012 in Ishaga, Lagos, Dana Airlines has always been under a radar of suspicion by Nigeria’s air passengers.  The crash then killed all the 159 passengers on board, including some people on the ground, where the plane crashed.