Abuja Airport shut down for hours on Wednesday, after a plane ran off track. No casualties, but the incident cause panic and resulted in flight delays.
Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport was temporarily shut down today after an aircraft skidded off the runway. The Allied Air Cargo plane, with registration number 5N-JRT, ran off Runway 22 at around 10:05 a.m.
The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) confirmed the incident, which caused a temporary closure of the airport. The aircraft, operated by Allied Air Cargo, veered off the runway, triggering emergency protocols. FAAN immediately deployed its Emergency Response Team to manage the situation.
Mrs. Obiageli Orah, FAAN’s Director of Public Affairs, said, “The Airport Emergency Response Team is on the scene, and accident investigators are assessing the situation.” She added the authorities were clearing Runway 22 “and operations should resume shortly.”
Sources said the five passengers on the aircraft were safe, with no injuries. As a precautionary measure, authorities took them to the FAAN clinic for medical checks. FAAN urged passengers and the public to remain patient as they worked to clear the runway.
The incident comes just days after a near-miss at Lagos International Airport. This has raised concerns over safety standards. Experts say while these incidents are not always catastrophic, they deserve attention for aviation safety.
Experts, passengers worry as Abuja Airport is shut
Aviation safety experts told Medialord.ng there was need for stricter measures to prevent similar incidents. “This could have been worse. Immediate improvements in runway management and maintenance are very important,” said Captain Mohammed Lawal, a former pilot and aviation consultant.
“The frequent shutdowns at Nigerian airports are a sign of deeper systemic problems in aviation infrastructure,” Lawal added.
Passengers at Nnamdi Azikiwe Airport expressed mixed reactions to the shutdown. “I was anxious, but I’m glad everyone is safe. I hope this doesn’t happen again,” said Amina Ali, a traveller waiting for her flight.
“Airports in Nigeria need urgent safety upgrades,” said another passenger, Jide Bello. “We can’t keep having incidents like this.”
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