62 escape death as Abuja-Ilorin plane crash-lands

A major air disaster was averted in Ilorin, Kwara State Saturday when a commercial airline, Overland Airways, carrying 59 passengers and three crew members crash-landed. The incident which caused panic among passengers and others at the airport happened around 5pm on Saturday evening. It was gathered that the Abuja-Ilorin bound plane had a burst tyre […]

A major air disaster was averted in Ilorin, Kwara State Saturday when a commercial airline, Overland Airways, carrying 59 passengers and three crew members crash-landed.

The incident which caused panic among passengers and others at the airport happened around 5pm on Saturday evening.

It was gathered that the Abuja-Ilorin bound plane had a burst tyre while trying to land in Ilorin, making it to skid off the runway.

A witness said, “The plane was about to land when one of its tyres didn’t come out. As it was about landing, smoke was coming out from the plane but men of the fire service swiftly moved in to quench the fire while all the passengers were evacuated”.

A man who simply identified himself as the airport Commandant confirmed the incident.

Some of the passengers attributed the incident to over speeding even as they thanked God for saving their lives.

However, the Airport Manager declined to comment on the incident.