The Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) has begun investigation into the runway incident involving XeJet Airline’s Embraer 145 aircraft.
Recall that XEJet’s aircraft marked 5N BZZ flight from Abuja to Lagos with 49 passengers and three crew members onboard skidded off the runway at the domestic wing of the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos last Saturday, May 11.
Spokesperson for the NSIB, Mrs Bimbo Olawumi Oladeji, said in a release that the bureau was notified of the incident by the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) and a go-team was promptly deployed to the incident site.
“NSIB’s investigation into this incident is ongoing. Our focus is determining the factors that led to the runway overrun.
“Our investigators have interviewed the captain, senior first officer, and purser. Toxicology tests were also conducted on the crew to check for any impairing substances. All tests came back negative.
“The flight data recorder and cockpit voice recorder have been retrieved and the data downloaded for further analysis at our transport safety lab,” Oladeji said.
She said the bureau’s investigation of the incident will examine various aspects, including the airworthiness status of the aircraft, operational policies, human factors, weather conditions, health and mental status of the crew, aircraft maintenance records, and any previous incidents involving this aircraft’s landing gear system. Air traffic control data, cockpit voice recordings, and flight data recorders will also be downloaded and examined.
“In accordance with international aviation safety protocols, a preliminary report containing a summary of basic fact-finding about the incident will be released within 30 days.
“A final report with safety recommendations will be issued at the conclusion of the investigation.
“During the course of the investigation, NSIB will collaborate with relevant stakeholders including Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Nigerian Airspace Management Agency, Nigerian Meteorological Agency, as well as other relevant institutions and specialists, to gather all necessary information, data, and evidence concerning the operation of the flight.
“This investigation aims to identify any safety deficiencies and recommend measures to prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future.
“The objective of this investigation is to arrive at the cause of the incident and the factors that led to it, and to issue safety recommendations to prevent such occurrences in the future.
Updates will be provided as the investigation progresses,” she added.
