Abuja runaway resumes after flight disruption due to plane overshoots

Abdullateef Fowewe

The Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja has resumed operations following a temporary closure caused by an Allied Air Cargo aircraft skidding off the runway.

The incident reportedly occurred at approximately 10:05 AM on Wednesday, when the aircraft, registered as 5N-JRT, experienced a tire burst upon landing, leading to significant flight disruptions.

Immediately after the incident, the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority said flight operations would be disrupted at the Airport.

The Director of Consumer Protection and Public Affairs of NCAA, Michael Achimugu, in a terse statement said, “Due to an incident on the runway of the Abuja airport, passengers may experience some delays with flights today. Please be patient and orderly.”

Confirming the incident, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, in a statement by its Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Obiageli Orah, said that those onboard have been evacuated and taken to the clinic for further checks.

Orah said, “At 10:05 am on December 11, 2024, an Allied Air Cargo aircraft with registration number 5N-JRT skidded off Runway 22 at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja with five souls on board with no reported injury. They were all safely evacuated and taken to the FAAN clinic for further checks.

“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).”

However, Achimugu later confirmed that the runaway had been reopened and normalcy had been restored.

He wrote, “Runway has now been opened. Normal schedule resumes.”