A DOMESTIC commuter flight 1170 enroute Abuja from Ibadan with 48 persons on board returned to Lagos yesterday when the pilot was said to have noticed a crack on the windshield of the plane.
The ATR-42 aircraft operated by Overland Airways diverted from Ibadan to Lagos having left the Ikeja airport earlier.
Reports indicate a crack in the window of something like a passenger airliner would not rupture fast enough that would cause the aircraft to decompress and suck the pilot out.
As such, smaller aircrafts such as ATR-42 do not fly at great altitudes so there is not that much difference in pressure that would cause someone to get sucked out.
A statement signed by Mr. Supo Atobatele, general manager, Public Affairs of NAMA said the pilot while airborne noticed some cracks on the windshield and subsequently requested to divert the aircraft to Lagos (being the base of the airline) to allow for change of plane for the passengers.
The statement said, “the plane was airborne around 7.42 a.m, changed course before landing in Lagos at 9.43 a.m.”
Forty-two passengers and six crew were on-board the aircraft as at the time of the incident.
Supo said there is no cause for alarm as the diversion was precautionary and this conforms with the basic safety norms of the industry.
Source: Guardian
