Yemisi Izuora
AKANU Ibiam International Airport, Enugu, has been certified as ready for emergency response any time such challenges occur.
The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, FAAN, which conducted a mock exercise to test its emergency response capability, said it was satisfied with the response.
Oriental News Nigeria recalls that the state Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi last year led other eminent dignitaries of the state to the ceremony marking the landing of the first international cargo aircraft at Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu, courtesy of the Ethiopian Airlines.
The exercise which created panic in some passengers, who were not aware that it was a test case, stage-managed aircraft crash with 20 passengers on board. The incident commander at the airport, Mrs. Nkafon Goodluck, said they tested emergency procedures on an aircraft with a failed engine, which crash landed and ignited fire.
“We tackled the emergency; only one person died out of the 20 passengers on board,” she reported. The airport’s General Manager, Operations, Mrs. Oni, said what took place was a collaboration with agencies on what to do in case of emergencies. She noted that the mock exercise was last performed at the Enugu Airport in 2015, adding that it helps in certification and to ascertain the state of preparedness in case such incident occurs.. The Airport Manager, Mr. Orji Mgbemena, pleaded with those who were embarrassed by the exercise, noting that such cases usually take everybody by surprise. Mgbenmena said it helped the airport to know if it was short or had exceeded expectation, particularly as an international airport, adding that it was also for regulatory purpose.