Flights diverted at Abuja Airport over runway closure

A serious incident involving a Boeing 737 aircraft in the fleet of Aero Contractors on Sunday occasioned diversion of flights into the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport (NAIA), Abuja.

The development affected many airline operators following the closure of the runway after the Aero Contractors aircraft upon landing at Abuja Airport had its nose wheel stuck in the grass with its fuselage blocking the runway.

The aircraft took from Lagos.

A source at the airport said the runway was closed pending the towing of the aircraft from the runway, leading to many aircraft that were on descent to hover for a few minutes before taking the decision to divert to the nearest airport or back to base.

Many aircraft that were Abuja-bound before the incident occurred diverted to Kano.

ValueJet’s 11.20 am flight diverted to Kano while Dana Air’s Flight 9j335 came back to Lagos as the incident dislocated so many people’s travel plans and put a huge cost on airlines and their schedules to the Abuja airport.

The National Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) in a statement on Sunday said the runway remains closed pending the towing of the aircraft from the runway.

Director, of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, NSIB, Dr. James Odaudu said there was no injury or fatality.

The NSIB, he said :’ Solicits information from the general public in the form of pictures, video, or recording evidence to assist in conducting a comprehensive investigation.

He further disclosed that the accident investigative body would release the preliminary report as soon as possible.