Gov Attah Survives Air Mishap
As Plane overshoots runway
From Efem Nkanga and Francis Ndubuisi in Uyo
Governor Victor Attah of Akwa Ibom state yesterday survived a near air mishap when the plane he boarded at Eket airstrip of Mobil producing Nigeria Unlimited skidded off the runway as it was about to take off.
THISDAY gathered that the accident happened around 7am in the morning immediately after the governor boarded the 16-seater Beechcraft 1900D, with registration number FNPIL. Ten people were believed to be on board.
The pilot was said to have taxied unto the wet runway and immediately attempted takeoff, instead of waiting and building enough power to enable a smooth and proper takeoff.
This was said to have led to a brief loss of control, with the plane overshooting the runway by over a thousand feet, and eventually missing the airstrip perimeter fence by some meters before coming to a stop.
The plane, owned by Wings Aviation, a private airline, was chartered by the Delta state government to bring Attah to a seminar on ethnic conflict in Niger Delta organised by the Delta State Government in Effurun.
Attah, said to be in good condition, was driven back to Uyo after he got out of the plane. He was accompanied on the trip by his chief detail, chief press secretary, ADC and body guards.
Ise Akpaso, Attah's spokesman said that there was no cause for alarm as the governor was doing fine and in high spirits, though the journey to Delta had to be aborted. He confirmed that Attah was on his way to Delta in a plane provided by the Delta state government.
The Nigeria Airspace Mana-gement Authority (NAMA) immediately sealed the runway in order to thoroughly investigate the immediate and remote causes of the mishap.
Following the accident the oil company's planes could not take of and land as scheduled thus disrupting the official runs of personnel on duty. Passengers who had already been checked in were asked to go back home.
The extent of damage to the aircraft was also yet to be ascertained but it was disclosed that the incident has already been reported to the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA).
Speculations yesterday that the Delta State Governor Chief James Ibori was on board the aircraft were put to rest by one of his aides, Sheddy Ozoene.
It would be recalled that a Pan African Airlines about two months ago crashed into the ocean in the Niger Delta region killing all the occupants.
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