By George Ozalla
A dramatic incident unfolded on Tuesday when an Airpeace plane carrying over 100 passengers, including Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate Peter Obi, experienced technical issues while landing at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport’s local wing.
The plane, with flight number P47123, took off from Abuja at 12:59 pm, about 24 minutes behind schedule. According to eyewitnesses, the pilot lost control for about 30 minutes, causing the plane to hover and instilling fear among passengers.
“It was a nasty experience. The plane made many attempts to land but had to retreat. The passengers were jolted. People were praying and casting out the devil as the plane’s destiny was uncertain,” one passenger narrated. “At a point, it was as if the plane would crash on many houses.”
The passengers described the ordeal as harrowing, with some praying and others panicking. A mother of two said she almost gave up as the plane hovered aimlessly between ascending or descending into chaos.
Peter Obi, who was seated in economy class, was said to have remained calm and resolute, comforting fellow passengers and assuring them that all would be well. “Peter Obi was calm and resolute. He was telling people around him to be calm that all would be well,” another passenger said. “We thank God we survived. No one would have believed it was an accident if the plane had crashed with Peter Obi inside.”
A businessman, Dr. Benson Onuwaje, who was seated in first class, was credited with summoning courage and praying for the safety of all passengers. “The man Dr. Onuwaje is a man of courage. He is a man of God. He rose up and started praying. He called the name of God and assured us that we would land safely,” Mathew Adekunle, another passenger, said. “We thank God our prayer was answered.”
The plane eventually landed at 2:25 pm, about 30 minutes behind schedule. Passengers expressed relief and gratitude that the incident did not end in disaster.
The incident has raised concerns about the safety of air travel in Nigeria, with passengers calling on authorities to ensure that airlines prioritize maintenance and safety protocols. “Nigerian Leaders need to fix the country and avoid potential causes of disasters like this, which has serious implications for national security,” one passenger said.
“We thank God we all landed safely. God protected all of us, including Peter Obi,” another passenger said, expressing relief and gratitude.
