Cracked windshield forces Overland’s mid-air detour

An Overland aircraft with some Abuja-bound national conference delegates including former national president of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Mr. Lanre Ogundipe which took off from Ibadan early yesterday was forced to fly back and make an emergency landing in Lagos as a result of a broken windshield, airport authorities told our correspondents yesterday.

Flight 1170 operated by Overland with an ATR-42 aircraft left Ibadan en route Abuja. Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) spokesman, Supo Atobatele 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 plane was airborne around 9.42 am and diverted by 8.57am, landing in Lagos at 9.43 am”, he said, adding that the diversion was precautionary and conforms with basic industry safety norms. 42 passengers and six crew members were onboard the aircraft.

“We were mid-way in the Niger State airspace when the aircraft’s windshield got broken and the pilot made a detour to Lagos,” a passenger told newsmen. ExNUJ president Mr. Ogundipe also said the aircraft along with the passengers were still at a hangar at the Murtala Muhammed Airport in Lagos at the time of filing in this report.