With just 48 hours following the Aero Contractors and Lufthansa Airlines incidents at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, and Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, respectively, another aircraft was involved in a runway mishap.
This time, it was a ValueJet CRJ 900
Bombardier, bearing the registration number SN-BXR, which slipped on a taxi turn at the Port Harcourt International Airport (PHIA), Port Harcourt, according to a statement from the airline’s management.
The incident occurred at 3:30 local time on Tuesday, with the aircraft having safely landed on the runway prior to the occurrence. The Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) has been informed but is yet to provide details about the incident. However, speculation suggests that a gully on the taxiway may have been a contributing factor.
It was also gathered that there was no fatality to the passengers as a result of the incident.
Captain Stanley Balami, who was operating the flight, reported that the slip occurred due to algae on the taxiway, causing difficulty in maintaining the center line during the turn.
Balami reassured the public that ValueJet remains a safe airline, emphasizing that all operations are proceeding without any disruptions.
In summary, a ValueJet aircraft, post-landing at Port Harcourt International Airport, experienced a minor incident involving a slip on a taxi turn. Swift action was taken to clear the aircraft from the runway, and no harm was
done to passengers or the plane itself.
The incident’s cause is under investigation by the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau, though preliminary information suggests algae on the taxiway may have played a role.