The management of Ibom Air, an Akwa Ibom State government owned airline, have reacted to the emergency evacuation of passengers at the tarmac of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, MMIA.
An Ibom Air aircraft, with number, IAN 4157, and flying 128 passengers was said to have left Abuja by 10.30 am and landed normally at the international runway in Lagos, on schedule at 11.41 am.
However, upon taxiing off the runway, the pilots was said to have noticed an indication from the main wheels, suggesting a malfunction.
Consequently, there was an urgent announcement that the aircraft will be tolled.
While the pilot made efforts to calm the situation, passengers were not comfortable with the development.
The unhappy passengers were later transported out by the airline buses which rushed to the scene. The airline engineers, it was learnt, tried to address the issue and move the aircraft out of the runway.
But in its response to the development, Ibom Air General Manager, Marketing and Communication, Aniekan Essienette said in a statement, “In accordance with company procedure, rather than taxi the full distance to the domestic terminal, the crew opted to turn off into the international cargo apron from where stairs and buses were positioned to disembark the passengers and take them to the domestic arrival hall.
“All 128 passengers on board were safely disembarked and transported to the arrival hall at MMA2, while our Engineers work on the fault.
“This statement is given to clear any ambiguity while expressing our regrets to our passengers for the inconvenience.”