The Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) has issued preliminary findings regarding the incident involving a McDonnell Douglas MD-82 aircraft operated by Dana Airlines Limited with nationality and registration marks 5N-BKI, which took place on runway 18L at Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos on April 23, 2024.
The incident occurred just after 9 a.m local time. The aircraft departed Abuja at around 8:20 a.m local time and reached Lagos at approximately 9:20 a.m local time. On board were 82 passengers and 6 crew members, with no injuries or fatalities reported.
A statement from the director of public affairs and consumer protection at the bureau, Mrs. Bimbo Oladeji outlined the following conclusions from the NSIB investigation team:
– The flight crew possessed the necessary licenses and certifications to operate the aircraft.
– The aircraft held a valid Certificate of Airworthiness at the time of the incident.
– Before landing, the crew extended the landing gear, with the main landing gear indication lights showing green. However, the nose landing gear (NLG) indication light remained red.
– The crew followed standard procedures by trying to cycle the landing gear and executing the emergency gear extension checklist. Regrettably, the NLG stayed in an unconfirmed down and locked position.
– While conducting a low pass over the airport, Air Traffic Control (ATC) visually observed the NLG as extended.
– Upon landing, the ground spoilers failed to deploy automatically as anticipated.
– During the landing rollout, the crew encountered significant vibration and loud noises from the NLG area. Initially extended, the NLG eventually collapsed at around 80 knots.
– The captain initiated an evacuation as a safety precaution. Passengers and crew safely exited using the forward service door and deployed escape slide.
It’s essential to highlight that this report is preliminary and the investigation is still ongoing. The NSIB will continue to collect and analyze evidence to determine the root cause of the incident. No additional information will be disclosed at this stage.
The bureau remains dedicated to enhancing transport safety in Nigeria and will publish a final report containing safety recommendations once the investigation is concluded.
