Early on Sunday morning, around 10:47am. A potential catastrophe was narrowly averted when a Boeing 737 aircraft, bearing the registration 5N-BYQ and operated by Aero Contractors, experienced a critical incident upon landing at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport (NAIA) in Abuja.
The incident unfolded following the aircraft’s morning departure from Murtala Muhammed Airport (MMA) in Lagos. After landing in Abuja, the aircraft’s nose wheel became lodged in the grass verge, causing its fuselage to partially occupy the runway.
In response to this perilous situation, the airport authorities took immediate action, temporarily closing the runway to facilitate the safe towing of the aircraft. Fortunately, there were no reported injuries or fatalities among the passengers and crew, offering a sigh of relief in the face of a potentially catastrophic event.
Dr. James Odaudu, the Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection at the National Safety and Investigation Bureau (NSIB), issued a comprehensive statement detailing the unfolding of events. He underscored the importance of closing the runway temporarily to ensure the efficient and secure removal of the aircraft from the scene.
Dr. Odaudu urged the public to exercise caution in speculating on the incident’s cause, emphasizing that an official report from the NSIB would provide accurate information. Contact details for the NSIB were provided for those seeking further information or updates on the situation.
The statement reemphasized that the incident did not result in any injuries or fatalities, emphasizing the commitment to conducting a thorough investigation to ascertain the root cause of the incident and prevent future occurrences.
