Abuja Airport temporarily shut after cargo plane skids off runway, no injuries reported

An Allied Air Cargo aircraft with registration number 5N-JRT skidded off Runway 22 at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja, leading to the temporary closure of the airport.

The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) confirmed that the incident occurred at 10:05 a.m. and involved five people aboard the aircraft. Fortunately, all passengers were safely evacuated without injuries.

In a statement, FAAN’s Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Mrs. Obiageli Orah, provided assurances about the response efforts.

“The Airport Emergency Response Team is on the scene along with accident investigators,” she said. “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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As a precaution, the evacuees were taken to FAAN’s clinic for medical evaluation, though no injuries were reported. The incident has prompted swift action by airport authorities and drawn the attention of aviation stakeholders.

Efforts to restore normal operations at the airport are underway, and authorities are coordinating with investigators to determine the cause of the mishap.

FAAN has assured travelers and the public that updates will be provided as soon as the runway is reopened and more details are available.

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