Nigeria begins probe of crash-landing incident involving domestic airline

Nigeria probe of crash-landing incident

ABUJA, May 8 (Xinhua) -- The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) on Monday announced that it has launched an investigation into a crash-landing incident involving a domestic airline in the country.

The incident occurred Sunday when an aircraft, operated by the local Max Air, which was carrying more than 144 passengers, made a crash-landing at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja, the capital of Nigeria, after losing its landing wheels.

Fortunately, there were no casualties reported, as all passengers and crew members on board were safely evacuated.

Musa Nuhu, the director-general of the NCAA, said in a statement Monday that the investigation, coordinated by the Nigeria Safety Investigation Board, will look into all aspects of the incident.

"Several flights, both domestic and international flights, were stranded at Abuja airport, while incoming flights diverted to other airports," Nuhu said, adding that the airport was temporarily shut down due to the disabled aircraft on the runway, as the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport has only one runway.

Flight operations resumed late Sunday, hours after the damaged wheels of the aircraft were replaced and the aircraft taxied on its power from the runway to an assigned parking position.

Nuhu assured the public that the NCAA will take all necessary measures to ensure that such incidents do not occur again in the future.

The investigation, and the findings, are expected to be made public when completed.