AN AERO Contractor flight 2124 escaped a crash en route Abuja-Lagos on Wednesday, March 16, while inbound Lagos State.
Carrying, at least, 80 passengers, the flight experienced much turbulence from a heavy cloud, eventually resulting in a downpour.
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Passengers overwhelmed with fear screamed and called on God to save them from impending doom through different means as the aircraft’s wings flapped raucously.
Many called ‘Jesus’, and others shouted ‘Allah’ as the hope of escaping death waned.
The incident happened between 4:25pm and 4:40pm.
Awojebe Akinwale was the flight’s captain. Elated passengers praised his team when the flight eventually landed at about 4:45pm.
The cabin crew and the captain’s co-pilot beamed with smiles as they watched the passengers disembark.
The ICIR reporter, who was on the flight, noted that the aircraft spent about one hour 20 minutes in the air instead of the one hour indicated in the flight schedule.
One of the passengers, Mrs Ugwu Divine, a Lagos resident, said, “This is my second time experiencing this turbulence. But today’s experience was more. I was terrified, but the pilots did justice to the situation. I thank God for everything. As I talk to you, I am still feeling the shock in my body. It was just God and the pilot.”
Another passenger, Agnes Kayode, said, “I was very scared when the crisis started. Immediately after the turbulence started, I developed a running stomach. I was so scared that I thought everything was over.”
Similarly, Cynthia Titilayo, a passenger on the flight, said she was scared because she had never experienced such a crisis all her life.
Meanwhile, a male passenger, a pastor, who identified himself as Njoku, told The ICIR he was not afraid because God “is on the throne.” The reporter sat beside Njoku and saw him pray noisily during the turbulence.
Aero Contractor relaunched its services last December after it suspended operations over financial crisis.
Marcus bears the light, and he beams it everywhere. He's a good governance and decent society advocate. He's The ICIR Reporter of the Year 2022 and has been the organisation's News Editor since September 2023. Contact him via email @ mfatunmole@icirnigeria.org