49 passengers escape death as Dana Air plane lands inside the bush

Forty-nine passengers on Tuesday cheated death after a Dana Air plane landed inside the bush  at the Port Harcourt Airport.

General Manager, Corporate Affairs, Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Mrs Henrietta Yakubu, confirmed the incident in a statement issued in Lagos.

Yakubu said: “A Dana aircraft flight 9J0363, flying from Abuja to Port Harcourt airport, overshot the Port Harcourt runway.

“The incident was suspected to have been caused by a heavy rain, which was accompanied by strong wind and storm in Port Harcourt.

“No casualty was recorded, as all passengers on board were safely evacuated.”

NAN reports that Mr Sam Adurogboye, General Manager, Public Relations, Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), also confirmed the incident.

He said the aircraft was partially damaged after it overshot the runway.

“I learnt the runway has been closed but it will be reopened before the next 30 minutes after inspection has been carried out on it.

“Forty-nine passengers were on board and safely evacuated. The aircraft came in from Abuja to Port Harcourt, “he said.