Mild drama ensued in the Port Harcourt International Airport after a plane returned just minutes after take-off due to a fire alarm.
A Lagos-bound Air Peace plane on Saturday made an air return some minutes after taking off from the Port Harcourt International Airport, according to an official.
The General Manager, Public Relations, Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, Mr. Sam Adurogboye, confirmed the incident in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria in Lagos.
Adurogboye said an alarm was raised about fire in the cabin causing some tension among passengers which forced the pilot to make the air return.
“The flight crew did the right thing by returning to base to check the situation,’’ he said.
The NCAA spokesman, however, said the aircraft did not crash land.
“Air return is a precautionary flight safety procedure that must be adopted in the event of a snag. The pilot acted according to Standard and Recommended Practices,” Adurogboye said.
He also reiterated the NCAA’s commitment to safety of Nigeria’s aviation sector.
NAN leant that another aircraft was later provided to convey the passengers to Lagos.