Less than three weeks after the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authorities closed Dana Air, an airplane from XEJET Airlines also slipped off the runway and landed in the grass at the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos, on Saturday.
Because of this event, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria has closed the airport's 18/Left runway
The Airbus with registration 5N-BZZ, carrying 52 passengers, departed from Abuja and landed in Lagos at 11:29 am.
In the previous month, a Dana MD-82 aircraft slipped off the runway, leading the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, to order the carrier's suspension for a comprehensive audit.
Last year, in November, two aircraft from different airlines slipped off the runway in one week.
Aero Contractors' flight NG 119, with a registered Boeing 737 aircraft 5N-BYQ from Lagos to Abuja, had a total of 133 passengers on board.
All passengers were safely evacuated through a controlled disembarkation.
The temporary closure of the runway by FAAN restricts the airport to only one runway, which is expected to cause airplane delays and landing issues.
The spokesperson of the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau, Bimbo Olajide, confirmed that an airplane from Xejet Airlines slipped off the runway of the domestic wing of the Murtala Muhammed Airport on Saturday.
She mentioned that a team had been sent to the site of the incident.
“Our teams are there and managing the situation. But I cannot immediately answer questions about whether or not the runway will be reopened today,” NSIB spokesperson told PUNCH Online.
