Runway 22 at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja has been reopened, and normal flight operations have resumed as of Wednesday.
The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) confirmed that both landings and takeoffs are back to normal. This update was shared by Gbenga Oloeunpomi, the Special Assistant on Media and Public Affairs to the Managing Director of FAAN, on his X (formerly Twitter) account. He stated, “Update: Runway has been opened, and planes are now landing and taking off. Thanks for your kind patience.”
Earlier on December 11, 2024, the runway had been closed after a cargo airplane skidded off during landing. The incident involved an Allied Air Cargo aircraft with registration number 5N-JRT, which had five crew members on board, all of whom were unharmed.
Michael Achimugu, the Director of Consumer Protection and Public Affairs at the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), noted that passengers might experience some delays due to the incident and urged everyone to remain patient and orderly.
FAAN spokesperson Obiageli Orah provided additional details, indicating that at 10:05 AM, the Allied Air Cargo aircraft skidded off Runway 22. Fortunately, all five crew members were safely evacuated and taken to the FAAN clinic for further checks.
