Valuejet Aircraft Overshoots Runway at Port Harcourt Airport

Chinedu Eze

Nigerian new carrier, Valuejet Airlines has reported an incident involving its aircraft in Port Harcourt yesterday afternoon.

The airline said that its flight operated by Bombardier, CRJ-900 aircraft with registration 5N-BXR, skidded off the runway after landing.

The management of the airline confirmed that no passenger was hurt and no damage was done to the aircraft.

A statement from the airline stated: “ValueJet aircraft slipped on taxi turn after landing safely and cleared off the runway at Port Harcourt airport. No damage to the aircraft. The incident happened at 3.30 local time.

“The CRJ 900 Bombardier aircraft with registration 5N-BXR landed safely with passengers wondering what could have happened because the airplane landed safely without difficulty. The minor incident happened at about 3.30pm at the Port-Harcourt International Airport.

“Captain Stanley Balami (the pilot in command of the flight) reported that the aircraft encountered a slip due to algea on the taxi-way which made it unable to maintain the centre line. ValueJet remains a safe airline and all the airline’s operations are normal without glitch.” Three days ago, Aero Contractors aircraft was stuck off the runway at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Lagos when the aircraft, a Boeing 737 aircraft lost its steering after landing.

Recently, a private jet, HS25B with core sign, 5NAMM operated by Flint Aero landed before the ‘holden’ point of the Runway at the Samuel Ladoke Akintola International Airport, and crashed into the bush with severe damage on the aircraft.

Industry observers urged the regulatory agency, the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) to improve its oversight functions to ensure safe flight operations, as the incidents could be signs of  more serious occurrences if actions were not taken to reinforce safety in the sector.