Presidential jet develops fault mid-air, Jonathan, others on board

Written by The Punch Thursday, 29 July 2010 05:15

President Goodluck Jonathan and some members of his entourage escaped death on Tuesday, when the presidential jet in which they were travelling from Kampala, Uganda to Abuja developed a fault mid-air.

The aircraft, which took off from the Entebbe International Airport, Kampala, developed a fault soon after take-off.

This forced the pilot to return to the Kampala airport, where Jonathan and his entourage disembarked and spent another night in the Ugandan capital.

Jonathan was returning to Nigeria from the 15th Summit of Heads of State and Government of African Union, which he attended for the first time as President.

After the fault had been fixed, the President and members of his entourage left Kampala on Wednesday morning and landed a few hours later in Abuja.

A statement by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr. Ima Niboro, confirmed that the aircraft had to return to Kampala soon after take-off.

It reads, “President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan today returned from Kampala, Uganda where he attended the 15th Summit of Heads of State and Government of the African Union (AU).

“This is the first African Union Summit he attended as President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. He was received on arrival at the presidential wing of the Nnamdi Azikiwe Airport, Abuja this afternoon by senior government officials including the Head of Service of the Federation, Mr. Steve Oronsaye, Chief of Staff to the President, Chief Mike Oghiadomhe, Ministers and other key government functionaries.

“President Jonathan was to have returned to the country last night but the trip was aborted when the President’s aircraft developed a minor technical fault soon after take-off. The aircraft, however, successfully returned to the Entebbe International Airport, Uganda.

“By this morning, the fault has been fixed and President Jonathan along with members of his entourage flew back to the country. The President is in high spirits.”