Incident Summary
On 6 December 2024, a Hawker 900XP aircraft with registration 5N-KAL, operated by Flybird Aircraft Management Services Limited, was conducting a charter flight from Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport (DNAA), Abuja, Nigeria to Kotoka International Airport (DGAA), Accra, Ghana. The flight operated under Instrument Flight Rules with three crew members and one passenger on board. Fuel endurance was four hours and thirty minutes. The First Officer was the Pilot Flying and the Captain was the Pilot Monitoring.
Flight Sequence
At 17:39 h, the aircraft departed DNAA on Runway 22. At 17:40:03 h, Abuja Approach cleared 5N-KAL for a right turn on course VONUK and to continue climb to FL 280. At 17:43:56 h, climbing through FL 135, the flight was transferred to Kano Control on 128.5 MHz, then to Lagos Control on 127.3 MHz at 17:44:50 h. At 17:51:13 h, while climbing through FL 260, the crew heard a loud bang from Engine number 2.
Emergency Response
The Engine 2 temperature indication increased. After reducing its power to idle, vibrations were felt. At 17:51:28 h, the crew declared an emergency to Lagos Control and requested a diversion back to DNAA at 17:51:40 h. The aircraft was instructed to contact Kano Control, where the Captain took over controls and the First Officer handled radio communications. At 17:52:44 h, cleared to descend to FL 180 and turn left direct to POKMO. At 17:57:03 h, transferred to Abuja Approach and cleared to POKMO, descending to FL 065 then FL 050.
At 18:02:31 h, the First Officer noted the aircraft was 48 nm from POKMO and advised halting descent as they were "BELOW." At 18:03:57 h, the Engine Failure Checklist was completed. At 18:12:08 h, at 5000 ft, visual contact with ground was established and Engine 2 was secured. At 18:12:15 h, the Captain declared "NUMBER TWO IS OUT," and the First Officer replied "NUMBER ONE IS OUT, NUMBER TWO IS OUT" at 18:12:18 h, then the Captain said "LET'S GO FINAL." At 18:12:19 h, a second emergency was declared stating "WE HAVE LOST TWO ENGINES."
Landing and Post-Event
At 18:13:01 h, cleared to land Runway 22 on short finals. At 18:14:10 h, Abuja Tower cleared landing with calm wind. At 18:14:22 h, "ONE THOUSAND FEET" annunciation; flaps 25 configured. At 18:14:31 h, speed 185 kt, landing gear down and locked, advised coming in hot. At 18:14:57 h, "THREE HUNDRED" heard, then "TOO LOW TERRAIN TOO LOW TERRAIN," "ONE HUNDRED," and altitude callouts down to 10 ft. At 18:15:26 h, First Officer called "FLAPS FORTY FIVE" and advised tower "SAFE ON GROUND." At 18:15:35 h, reported both engines lost and requested tow. An ambulance was stationed at link Alpha 4. The aircraft cleared the runway and taxied to the International Terminal Apron, parking without further incident. All occupants disembarked unhurt. The incident occurred at 17:51 h in daytime and Instrument Meteorological Conditions (IMC). Post-occurrence, the flight crew stated that Engine 1 regained response to thrust commands after landing.
Investigation
The Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) issued this interim statement on the first anniversary of the incident. The preliminary report has been published. Investigations are in the final stage, focusing on detailed inspection of both engines to identify faults and root causes of the failure and thrust anomaly, along with review of engine maintenance records.