Lagos–Abuja Air Peace Flight In Crash Scare, Nearly Crashes In Niger State Forest

Passengers were left thoroughly shaken after an Air Peace flight travelling from Lagos to Abuja on Thursday had a crash scare.

The plane had a crash scare as it neared its destination - Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport. 

The 6:30 am Air Peace Flight P47120 going from Lagos to Abuja nearly crashed in a forest area in Niger State before pulling up again.

According to an eyewitness account, the flight which was delayed for 30 minutes took off from Lagos. However, 30 minutes before its arrival in Abuja, it descended rapidly into a forest area in Niger State. 

But the eyewitness told SaharaReporters that while the passengers were thrown into sudden panic and apprehension as they saw trees close to the plane, the pilot suddenly pulled it up, averting the crash.

The eyewitness who was one of the passengers said the plane ought to return to Lagos immediately for another trip but it was delayed again till 4 pm. 

“This flight was scary for passengers who thought they were crashing. The flight took off from Lagos and had a 30 minutes delay. But suddenly, 30 minutes before arrival, it descended rapidly into an area in Niger state.

“Passengers saw trees close to the plane because the plane was that low but suddenly, the pilot pulled up. We had another harrowing flight before landing in Abuja.

“The plane ought to have returned to Lagos to take a fresh set of passengers but the passengers did not leave Abuja until 4 pm,” the source said.

Nigeria has had an unpleasant history of plane crashes. 

For instance, on February 21, 2021, a military aircraft conveying seven personnel of the Nigeria Air Force crashed en route to Abuja from Minna, due to a failure of the engine

All the occupants of the aircraft lost their lives. 

Also on May 21, 2021, a NAF aircraft crashed en route to Kaduna International Airport, Kaduna State from the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja. The 11 occupants comprising four crew members and seven passengers including Gen. Ibrahim Attahiru, Chief of Army Staff at the time, lost their lives. 

On October 3, 2013, a charter flight transporting the remains of Olusegun Agagu, a former governor of Ondo State, from Lagos to Akure, Ondo State for burial, crashed shortly after take-off. 

No fewer than 13 occupants died in the crash.

On June 3, 2012, a McDonnell Douglas MD-83 aircraft belonging to Dana Air, en route to Lagos from Abuja crashed into buildings in Lagos while attempting an emergency landing, killing all occupants on board. 

There were six crew members and 147 passengers. Six persons on the ground were also killed.