Abuja airport temporarily shut as cargo aircraft skids off runway

• An Allied Air Cargo aircraft skidded off Runway 22 at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, after a tyre burst upon landing
• All five individuals on board were safely evacuated without injuries and taken to the FAAN clinic for precautionary checks
• The airport runway was temporarily shut, causing significant delays to several departures as authorities worked to clear the affected area

The Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport (NAIA), Abuja, was temporarily closed on Wednesday, December 11, following an incident involving an Allied Air Cargo aircraft.

The aircraft, registered 5N-JRT, reportedly suffered a tyre burst upon landing on Runway 22 at 10:05 a.m., causing it to skid off the runway. 

This prompted the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) to shut the runway temporarily to facilitate recovery efforts.

In a statement, FAAN’s Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Mrs Obiageli Orah, confirmed that five people were on board the cargo aircraft. 

The evacuees were taken to the FAAN clinic for medical checks as a precautionary measure. The incident has drawn the attention of aviation stakeholders, while efforts are underway to restore normal airport operations.

“The Airport Emergency Response Team is on the scene along with accident investigators.

“The runway is being cleared and is expected to reopen for operations as soon as possible. We would like to thank the aviation community and the general public for their understanding and patience. 

“We also request that all speculation be put on hold until the preliminary report is released by the Nigeria Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB),” Orah stated.

The incident caused significant disruptions to flight operations, with several departures delayed as authorities worked to clear the affected runway. FAAN assured the public that normal operations would resume shortly.

Although the aircraft remained stuck near the runway at the time of reporting, emergency responders and accident investigators were actively managing the situation. 

FAAN reiterated its commitment to ensuring the safety of all airport users and promised to provide updates as investigations progress.

NCAA imposes fines on airlines over delayed passengers’ luggage

Meanwhile, TheRadar earlier reported that the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) imposed a $170/N10,000 fine on foreign and domestic airlines over delayed passengers’ luggage. 

The NCAA said the measure is in keeping with the implementation of the passenger bill of rights, which ensures that passengers are fully compensated whenever airlines compromise their standard of service, as contained in the passenger bill of rights in the Nigeria Civil Aviation Regulation (NCAR).