Panic in Benin as plane hovers, aborts landing

By Simon Ebegbulem

OVER fifty passengers  aboard a plane from Lagos to Benin City  escaped death, Saturday, when the aircraft  failed to land after hovering in the Benin airspace for about 15 minutes.

The incident  caused panic in Benin-City as people immediately evacuated their homes, fearing that the plane  might crash-land.

The flight flew back to Lagos after it failed to land at the airport. One of the passengers on board, who craved anonymity, disclosed that some “passengers fainted due to fear.”

The passenger continued: “We thought it was going to be another crash. We were hovering round the Benin airspace but we could not land. Of course people were shouting the name of Jesus until we were taken back to Lagos”.

A source at the Benin airport said  the pilot may have failed to get landing clearance from the control tower. The Benin Airport Manager, Mr Segun Ayodele, he said he was unaware of the incident when contacted last night.