Flights Diverted as Another Aircraft Skids off Runway at Lagos Airport
Chigozie Amadi
Flights were diverted yesterday as aircraft belonging to Xejet Airlines yesterday skidded off the runway at the Murtala Muhammad International Airport in Lagos.
The incident happened after landing at Runway 18L before it skidded off the Runway into the grass verge by B5 Aircraft.
A source privy to the incident stated that the E145 aircraft departed the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, with 52 passengers and two crew members on board.
“The fire and rescue team was on the ground to help in the evacuation of the passengers. At the moment Runway18L is closed to traffic,” the source said.
The Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) has confirmed the incident, saying its investigators had been deployed to the site.
“NSIB confirms that an aircraft belonging to XeJet Airline skidded off the runway at the domestic wing of Murtala Muhammed Airport this morning. A go team has been deployed to the site of the incident,” the bureau said.
The development comes three weeks after a Dana aircraft skidded off the runway at the same Lagos airport.
The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) subsequently suspended operations of the airline and ordered a probe.
However, weeks after the commencement of the probe, the airline disengaged some of its staff.
It gathered that the decision to disengage staff is a temporary decision by the airline pending the conclusion of the probe.
