A Rano Air aircraft with registration number 5N-BZY experienced a mid-flight engine failure recently, prompting swift action by the flight crew and aviation authorities.
The incident occurred when smoke was observed in the aircraft’s cabin and flight deck, indicating a failure in engine 1.
The flight crew promptly deployed oxygen masks and initiated standard emergency safety procedures.
Fortunately, the smoke later dissipated, and the pilot successfully landed the aircraft without further incident.
In response to the situation, the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) Directorate of Airworthiness ordered that the aircraft remain grounded pending the outcome of a thorough investigation.
Engineers are currently working on the aircraft, which remains on the ground.
Meanwhile, plans to airlift affected passengers from Sokoto were disrupted as the designated rescue aircraft had already boarded passengers for the Abuja-Katsina route.
The NCAA explained that it would have been operationally challenging to de-board those passengers, leading to the cancellation of the Sokoto flight.
In a statement, the regulatory body reaffirmed its commitment to safety, stressing that its records demonstrate a strong safety culture.
“More advanced countries have worse air incidents than Nigeria because, here, flights will get cancelled if there is the slightest safety concern,” the NCAA stated.
The agency assured the public that passenger safety remains its top priority and that appropriate measures are being taken to prevent future occurrences.
