An Embraer 145 medium-ranger operated by Xejet Airlines, a premium services provider, went off the runway and landed in the grassy sections of Runway 18Left at Lagos Airport.
The plane, carrying 52 passengers and crew members, took off from Abuja Airport before to the incident on the Lagos Airport runway.
According to a report by The Nation Newspapers, sources at the airport claim that due to the mobilization of officials from the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) aerodrome fire and safety rescue unit to the location of the event in order to rescue the passengers, the 18Left Runway has been blocked to aircraft traffic.
“Another aircraft belonging to Xejet Airlines has skidded off the runway at the Lagos Airport . The incident occurred about 11:29 am, as the plane veered into the grass verge by B5,” the source hinted.
” The aircraft carries registration mark – 5NBZZ, an Embraer 145 had 52 passengers on board with three crew members.
” Fire and Rescue personnel are on ground to help in evacuation of the passengers.
“At the moment Runway18L is closed to traffic.”
Aircraft skidding off the runway , experts say could be attributed to the heavy downpour which characterised this Saturday in Lagos.”
Xejet Airlines is a business class only airline based in Nigeria.
The airline is based at Lagos Murtala Muhammed International Airport (LOS).
NewsClick Nigeria reports that the incident is happening barely 16 days after Dana Air was shut down by the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authorities.
Just last month, Dana MD-82 aircraft was involved in a skidding off of the runway, necessitating the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, to order the suspension of the carrier for a comprehensive auditing.
Last year, in November, two aircraft from two different airlines skidded 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.
