ARIK Airline has explained that its aircraft that was flying Nigeria’s U-23 team to The Gambia on Sunday did not lose an engine on take-off from the Kotoka International Airport, Accra.

Banji Ola, the leading airline’s Public Relations and Communications manager, told thenff.com on Sunday evening that “the captain saw an indication light and as a precautionary measure, he had to make an air return. It was not a case of lost engine.”

The clarification became necessary following reports that the airplane, which had been deployed to fly the team to The Gambia following the incidence of lost tyre by the aircraft that had flown the squad to Accra, had lost an engine 10 minutes after take-off.

“There was no case of lost engine. It is true that the one that flew the team from Lagos lost one tyre while landing in Accra. As for the other airplane, the pilot only saw an indication light and made an air return as a precautionary measure.

“We immediately made arrangement for another aircraft to fly the team to The Gambia.”

The Nigeria U-23 delegation has since arrived and settled down in The Gambia, where the team will undergo a 10 –day training program ahead of the 2^nd Africa U-23 Cup of Nations starting in Senegal on November 28.