Lagos, Nigeria – The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has officially announced the reopening of Runway 18L/36R at Murtala Muhammed Airport in Lagos, bringing an end to the temporary closure that was necessitated by a recent incident involving a Dana Air plane skidding off the runway.
The announcement came via a press release signed by FAAN’s Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Obiageli Orah, earlier today.
In the statement, FAAN expressed its satisfaction in informing the public and all stakeholders that Runway 18L/36R has been reopened for flight operations as of 19:58hrs. The closure was initiated after a Dana Air aircraft, bearing registration number 5N-BKI, overshot the runway during its landing sequence. Swift and efficient action was taken by FAAN’s emergency response team to evacuate and recover the aircraft from the site. Following that, comprehensive clearing operations were carried out to ensure that the runway was entirely free from any Foreign Object Debris that could pose risks to flight safety, as stated by Orah.
FAAN’s Operations Division, in collaboration with the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency, conducted a thorough inspection of the runway surface and declared it safe for the resumption of operations. It was acknowledged that the affected area was considerably muddy, demanding extensive cleaning efforts to reinstate optimal safety conditions.
“Concerted efforts were made to meticulously and expeditiously clean the area, facilitating the prompt resumption of operations on Runway 18L/36R,” Orah affirmed.
Orah further expressed apologies for any inconvenience caused, emphasizing that the safety and security of passengers, staff, and airport operations remained FAAN’s utmost priority. FAAN remains committed to providing a safe, secure, and efficient air transport environment for all users of their airports.
FAAN extended its gratitude to the traveling public, airline partners, and all stakeholders for their patience, understanding, and cooperation during the temporary closure. The organization sincerely apologized for any inconvenience caused by the incident.
