Team to probe Ethiopian Airlines mishap set

Jan 04, 2019

Minister of Works and Transport, Monica Azuba , said the team comprises of technical people who immediately started investigating the incident, hoping to come up with a comprehensive report

The aircraft was later towed away from the runway.  Photos by Julius Luwemba

ENTEBBE - Ministry of Works and Transport (MoWT) has instituted a team of experts to investigate circumstances that led to poor landing of Ethiopian aircraft Boeing 737-800 number ET 338, which overshot the runway at Entebbe international airport on Wednesday night.

Minister of Works and Transport, Monica Azuba , said the team comprises of technical people who immediately started investigating the incident, hoping to come up with a comprehensive report as soon as investigations are done.

She however, did not tell the number of people on the investigating committee neither the time it will take them to make a report.

"Preliminary findings indicate that the plane slightly missed a touchline due to an air-pocket, hence skidding off the runway but the pilot was able to catch up," noted Hon. Azuba during a press conference held at Entebbe airport on Thursday after the incident.

 inisters zuba and  directors during a press brief at ntebbe airport  Ministers Azuba and CAA directors during a press brief at Entebbe airport

 
"When the incident happened, all the 139 passengers and crew on-board disembarked safely and the Civil Aviation Authority immediately issued a notice to airmen temporarily stopping incoming flights from outside the country," added minister Azuba.
 
Dr. David Kakuba, the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) - Uganda managing director said, aircraft of other operators which were already on the ground before the incident, were able to depart.

"The incident mainly affected inbound international flights including Turkish airlines, Kenya airways, Egypt air and Rwanda air which had incoming morning flights," remarked Dr. Kakuba.

 
Henry Aggrey Bagiire, the state minister for Transport said, the incident did not tantamount to any form of compensation because there was no passenger nor crew member who was physically hurt during or after the incident.

Abebe Angesa, the country manager for Ethiopian airlines in Uganda, highlighted that most of the passengers who had booked with the same flight for return, were accorded with accommodation in different hotels in Entebbe until another flight picked them.

 
"Another flight Boeing 787-ATI with a carrying capacity of 284 passengers was arranged for our clients who were supposed to travel that night and those for early morning," noted Abebe.

Vianney Luggya, the CAA Public Affairs manager explained that the airport has two runways, but the second one is still under construction under the current expansion of the airport programme.

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});