Abuja Airport Shut As Aerocontractors Aircraft Overshoots Runway

The Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport (NAIA) Abuja has been temporarily shut after a Boeing 737 passenger jet operated by Aerocontractors Airlines crash-landed on its runway.

The Lagos-Abuja flight landed at the Airport and was taxiing on Runway A4 when its nose wheel got stuck to the ground. Although no injury or fatality was recorded, the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) confirmed that the aircraft got involved in a “serious accident” around 10.47 am upon arriving at the NAIA from Lagos.

NSIB Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Dr. James Odaudu, while confirming the incident, said, “The aircraft upon landing at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja from Lagos and in a bid to exit the runway via A4 had its nose wheel stuck in the grass verge with its fuselage on the runway.

“Consequently, the runway was closed pending the towing of the aircraft from the runway.There was no injury or fatality.

“The NSIB, hereby, solicits information from the general public in form of pictures, video or recording evidences to assist in conducting a comprehensive investigation.”

Meanwhile, the multimodal investigation agency of the federal government has called for information from the general public in the form of pictures, video, or recording evidence to assist in conducting a comprehensive investigation into the accident at the Abuja airport.

“The bureau can be reached through info@aib.gov.ng and NSIB_Nigeria on its social media platforms. The Bureau can also be reached on its emergency line +234-807-709-0909.

“The NSIB will appreciate that the general public and press respect the privacy of the people on board and not assume the cause of the serious incident until a formal report is released,” the bureau said while assuring that it would release the preliminary report as soon as possible.