A Dana Air aircraft en-route Port Harcourt on Friday morning, made an ‘air return’, some minutes after take-off from the Murtala Muhammed Airport II, Lagos. The aircraft, with registration number 5N-SRI returned after colliding with a bird mid-air. Communications Manager of the airline, Kingsley Ezenwa, confirmed the incident in a statement. Mr. Ezenwa stated the captain took a professional decision by returning to the Lagos airport. “A bird strike is a collision between a bird and an aircraft that is airborne and as per standard safety procedure which is the hallmark of our operation, our pilot returned to base. “Our guests have, however, been put on another aircraft to ensure that their itinerary is not entirely disrupted. “The aircraft is currently being evaluated by our engineers to determine the effect of the bird strike on its affected engine,” he stated. The manager also assured Dana Air’s customers that the airline would continue to give priority to their safety and comfort. The General Manager, Public Relations, Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Mr Sam Adurogboye, told that the air return was a precautionary measure to prevent any untoward occurrence. Adurogboye stated the pilot acted according to Standard and Recommended Practices (SARPs), as such the incidences should not be sensationalised. “The pilot did the right thing by returning to base. “The aircraft had already lost one engine as a result of the bird strike and the standard practice is that the pilot should land at the nearest airport. “Once such incident occurs, it is mandatory for the airline to make a report to the NCAA,” he told the news outlet. Adurogboye also restated NCAA’s commitment to the safety and security of Nigeria’s aviation sector.
