Near Air Mishap: Jet Conveying Orubebe Escapes Crash in Warri
Minister of the Niger Delta Affairs, Elder Godsday Orubebe, alongside some of his aides miraculously escaped plane crash on Friday, November 5, 2010 at the Osubi Airstrip , Warri, Delta State as his chartered Jet developed engine fault just as it touched down
at the Airport.
A source at the Osubi Airstrip told Huhuonline.com / that the Dana chartered Jet which conveyed the minister developed a hydraulic system failure just as its touched down and at the process of running through the runway had engine jammed which forced the Jet to a halt right on the runway.
The aircraft, according to one of the Minister's aide, flew in from Abuja and, he (Orubebe) was expected to take another flight to his home town on arrival.
An Aviation source said that for about 30 minutes, the Jet could not turn on the runway, a situation which forced an Aero Contractor Plane from Lagos which was to land about 5: PM to rove around the air for about 45 minute before landing.
'As soon as the Jet touches ground, it starting running on the runway but at a point it get seized at the middle and could be turn to finish up. So people started panicking until the emergency team came to the rescue. 'It took a combined effort of Shell Aviation emergency team alongside rescued personnel from the fire service to fix the aircraft and evacuate its boarded passengers', the Aviation source added.
Eye witness account also said there was no report of loses but it took the rescued personnel some time to fix up the aircraft and get it to the parking lot where passengers were evacuated.
It was gathered that the emergency team fought to get the Jet fixed because it was also endangering the lives of those who were onboard an Aero contractor plane which was billed to land same time. It also delayed for the 5: PM Arik flight which had already boarded its passengers.
The source said that passengers have to wait patiently for the Jet conveying Orubebe to be fixed to enable others either take off or land to use the runway.