Lagos — Fokker 100 aircraft with tail number 5NCEO and about 108 passengers belonging to IRS Airlines, which bust its rear tyre Saturday night while taking off from the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos on its way to Kano, is yet to be handed over to the airline by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) that grounded the aircraft after the incident.

Spokesperson of the NCAA, Sam Adurogboye, told newsmen in a telephone interview that it was an incident and that it was customary for the regulatory authority to meet with the airline's crew and question them on the incident.

He also said that the NCAA engineers were looking at the aircraft to ascertain its status to determine whether it could continue operations after repairs.

The passengers' on board the aircraft, which aborted take-off and veered into the field when the tyre bust were relieved as the airline was able to make refunds to some and still conveyed others to their destination on Sunday.

Spokesman for the airline, Solomon Ibharunefe, told THISDAY that some of the passengers re-confirmed their tickets to also travel with the airline today.

According to him, some passengers, after the incident, were accommodated in a hotel at Toyin Street till Sunday morning when they traveled with the airline's 10.00 am flight.

Meanwhile, IRS Airlines has commended the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) for its prompt rescue efforts when the aircraft had flat tyre.