Abuja airport closes temporarily as aircraft skids off runway

The Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport (NAIA) Abuja has been temporarily closed following an incident involving an Allied Air flight.

The aircraft reportedly experienced a tyre burst after the aircraft landed at the Abuja airport on Wednesday.

The aircraft is reportedly stuck near the runway after skidding off, forcing the airport to be closed pending when the plane would be towed.

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A source at the NAIA said, “We are still at the air side at the moment where the incident happened and efforts are ongoing to reopen the runway.”

The incident was said to have caused significant disruptions, with several departures delayed as authorities work to clear the affected runway.

However there were no injuries to the passengers even as emergency officials are on site.

The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) confirmed the incident in a statement by its Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Mrs. Obiageli Orah.

The statement read: “At 10:05am 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 (5) 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).”

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