KAMPALA, UGANDA: Authorities at the RwandAir National Carrier and the Uganda Civil Aviation Authority (UCAA) have opened up on the Wednesday plane incident at Entebbe International Airport saying passengers aboard the aircraft were disembarked safely with no injuries reported.
The incident happened at around 5:31 am on Wednesday morning when a passenger plane carrying about 60 people skidded off the runway while landing at Entebbe airport during an adverse weather condition.
“RwandAir can confirm that flight WB464 was involved in an incident at 05:31 this morning, which led to the aircraft veering off the runway upon landing in Entebbe during adverse weather,” reads in part a Wednesday statement released via @FlyRwandAir official Twitter handle.
The Kigali carrier added; “All customers and crew were evacuated safely, and no injuries were reported. The situation is under control and RwandAir is in contact with all affected customers.”
According to the authority, efforts to recover the aircraft off the runway are underway so that the airport can return to its normal use and operations.
“The aircraft is currently being recovered, so Entebbe’s runway can return to use. Our Flight Crews are highly trained for all eventualities, including flying in adverse weather conditions.
“We are working closely with the local authorities, including the Ugandan Civil Aviation Authority, who will investigate the circumstances around the incident. The safety of our customers and crew is always our highest priority,” the Wednesday statement adds.
Muhoozi Birthday Guests
According to sources at the airport, it is reported that at least 20 out of an estimated 60 people aboard the skidded aircraft were guests from Kigali invited by First son Lt Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba to grace his 48th birthday celebrations scheduled for this Sunday, April 24.
Gen. Muhoozi who is also the commander of land forces earlier this week confirmed through his reactivated Twitter handle confirmed that former Miss Rwanda, Ms Jolly Mutetsi whom he described as “an old friend” would grace his glamorous birthday party, alongside several other dignitaries, artists and political figures from the East African Region.
UCAA Responds
Responding to the incident, the Uganda Civil Aviation Authority on Wednesday said the second (alternate) runway 12/30 was operational for small and light aircraft as they try to clear the main one.
“All efforts are underway to remove the aircraft from the runway strip so that the main runway can return to full use,” the aviation authority said in a statement.
This is not the first time a plane skidded off the runway. In January 2019, an Ethiopian Airlines (Boeing 737-800) carrying 139 people skidded off the runway when it landed at 12:41 am.
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