Lagos — Mr. Elle Karam was dead drunk. He was not aware that his Dana flight to Abuja yesterday had just escaped a major disaster. He did not smell any smoke or see any fire. He was not aware of any pandemonium.

"I'm glad to get off the aircraft," the passenger said. "My wife had told me not to travel today but I ignored her. I went to bed drunk last night, so I slept off immediately I boarded the aircraft this morning."

It would have been his last sleep but for the sheer dexterity and courage of the pilot that saved flight 9J 995 from crashing immediately after it took off at about 9.20 am yesterday from the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, on its way to Abuja. The twin-engine aircraft suffered bird strike on its left engine and lost the momentum of its take off speed.

THISDAY learnt that the stricken engine automatically went off and the remaining one was laden with the burden of lifting the aircraft but it caught fire after attaining a certain height and balls of fire began to waft in torrents from the engine. The aircraft, with 97 passengers and crew, lost its take-off speed and began to sway from side to side.

Various accounts revealed how the pilot made to stabilise the aircraft before he guided it back to the domestic runway (18L) and landed safely. As it taxied, it was chased by two fire vehicles until it made a final stop at the tarmac of the MMA2.

It was panic and alarm as people at the airport and residents of nearby areas watched the aircraft's precarious take-off and later slow return to the runway. Some of the witnesses who believed the aircraft would crash broke down in tears.

A passenger on board the flight, Babatunde Adeleke, who spoke with journalists, said that the aircraft had taken off when the captain announced that the McDonnell Douglas 83 (MD-83) aircraft engine was hit by a bird and was going to return to base.

"The captain, after take-off, announced to us that there was a bird strike and that it affected one of the aircraft engines and that we were going back to the MMA. We landed and they called us to their counter," he said.

Another passenger, who spoke to THISDAY, said that she could not possibly continue with the flight because she could not summon the courage for another flight.

"The aircraft was billowing smoke and it was not only uncomfortable but was choking, there was no way we could continue with the flight."

Another passenger, Mrs. Adebalogun who was on the aircraft with her daughter said," "We thank God oh! Na wah oh! My daughter, well thank God but we are going again."

A male passenger, Elle Karam, told newsmen that he was glad to be off the aircraft because his wife told him not to travel yesterday morning but to wait for another day.

He said that he was not aware of what happened because he was drunk the night before and slept off once on board the aircraft.

Dana Air which confirmed the incident said in a statement signed by its CEO, Jacky Hathiramani, that the aircraft was strike by a bird that the pilot decided to make emergency landing.

"Dana Air Flight 9J 995, en route Abuja from Lagos, suffered a bird strike shortly after take-off and, in line with the airline's safety and service policy, the Captain made an emergency landing at MMIA, Lagos.

All 97 passengers and crew disembarked the aircraft safely, and the aircraft was taken to the hanger. Most of the passengers were booked on alternative Dana Air flights to Abuja while a few who preferred a refund were given. We would like to thank all the passengers onboard the flight for their cooperation and understanding, as well as the NCAA (Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority) and all the airport authorities for their responsiveness and support.

Dana Air places a high premium on safety and we would always strive to deliver high quality air transport services to our esteemed guests."

A bird strike or Bird Aircraft Strike Hazard (BASH) is a collision between a bird and aircraft and so many aircraft engines operating in Nigerian have been destroyed by bird strike.