Runway 18L/36R at Murtala Muhammed Airport in Lagos has reopened, according to the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN).
The runway had been temporarily closed on Tuesday due to a Dana Air aircraft that had skidded off it. This was revealed on Wednesday in a news release that FAAN’s Obiageli Orah, Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, signed.
The statement read, “The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria is pleased to notify the public and all stakeholders that Runway 18L/36R was reopened for flight operations at 19:58hrs.
“This development follows the earlier closure of the runway this morning due to an incident involving a Dana Air aircraft, with registration number 5N-BKI, which overshot the runway during its landing sequence.
“Prompt actions were taken by our emergency response team to evacuate and recover the aircraft from the site. Subsequently, comprehensive clearing operations were conducted to ensure the runway was free of any Foreign Object Debris that could impede flight safety, Orah added.
The Nigerian Airspace Management Agency and the FAAN Operations Division jointly evaluated the runway surface and determined it safe for operations to resume, according to the statement.
FAAN confirmed that the overshoot had left a large muddy area in its wake, requiring intensive cleaning in order to restore safety.
“A concerted effort was made for the thorough and efficient cleaning of the area to facilitate the swift resumption of operations on Runway 18L/36R,” she said.
“Ensuring the safety and security of our passengers, staff, and airport operations remains our top priority,” Orah said in an apology for any inconvenience caused.FAAN is dedicated to giving all users of our airports a safe, secure, and effective air travel experience.
“FAAN wishes to express its gratitude to the travelling public, our airline partners, and all stakeholders for their patience, understanding, and cooperation during the temporary closure. We sincerely apologise for any inconvenience this incident may have caused,” the statement read.
