The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has launched investigations into this afternoon’s aborted Medview flight attributed to the failure of one of the aircraft’s engines. This was disclosed minutes ago by Aviation MinisterPrincess Stella Oduah-Ogiemwonyi. A statement signed on behalf of the minister by her SA (Media), Mr. Joe Obi, said:

“A Medview aircraft, a 737-400 with Reg. No 5N BPA from Lagos-Abuja-Yola earlier today made an air return to Lagos about 15 minutes after take-off. The plane had taken off at 12 noon. The pilot of the aircraft who noticed a surge in one of the engines immediately applied the necessary safety precautionary measure by returning the aircraft to base.

“The pilot made a safe and smooth landing while all passengers were successfully disembarked and subsequently transferred to another aircraft in the fleet, a 737-800. All passengers in the 737-800 were safely dropped at the two destinations-Abuja and Yola.

“NCAA officials and technicians are currently on ground looking at the circumstances surrounding the air return. It must however be pointed out that air return is a normal procedure usually applied by pilots and airlines all over the world whenever there is a compelling reason to discontinue the flight.”