Runway Incident: NSIB Urges Inspections of Allied Aircraft

On Saturday, the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) recommended the inspection of all Allied Air aircraft by the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) for potential mechanical and structural vulnerabilities.

The bureau made the call in a preliminary report issued in Lagos to ascertain the cause of the December 11, 2024 runway incident involving the freighter aircraft at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.

The report read: “Safety Recommendation 2025-001: The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority should inspect all Allied Air aircraft for potential mechanical and structural vulnerabilities, including Flap and Landing Gear Systems.

“Preliminary findings revealed that the flight crew members held a valid current licence and were qualified to conduct the flight.

“The aircraft had a valid Certificate of Airworthiness; the aircraft came in from Doula, Cameroon, on the day of the occurrence. There were no snags logged in the aircraft technical logbook.

 “The flight was a cargo revenue flight; the aircraft was scheduled for six sectors: Lagos-Abuja, Abuja-Sokoto, Sokoto to Abuja, Abuja-Yola, Yola-Abuja, and Abuja-Lagos.

“The same flight crew would operate the flights.

“The accident occurred in the first sector, and there was no cargo on the flight.

“The flight crew stated that during the Final Approach, flap 30 was selected, but the flaps did not move to the commanded position; they stopped at flap 15.

“The flight crew reported hearing a bang from the aircraft’s right side as the wheels touched down on the runway surface. The aircraft collapsed to the right when the crew attempted to maintain directional control.”

 “The FDR data indicated that from 01 November 2024 to the day of occurrence, the aircraft had performed a total of 101 landings out of which 85 were flap 15 landings.”