The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has announced to the public and all concerned parties that runway 18L/36R has been reopened for flight operations as of approximately 8 p.m.
This information was relayed in a statement issued by Mrs. Obiageli Orah, Director of Public Affairs & Consumer Protection at FAAN, on Tuesday in Lagos.
Orah explained that the reopening came subsequent to the closure earlier that Tuesday morning due to an incident involving a Dana Air aircraft with registration number 5N-BKI, which had overshot the runway during landing.
She emphasized the swift response of FAAN’s emergency response team in evacuating and retrieving the aircraft from the site. Following this, thorough clearing operations were conducted to ensure the runway was devoid of any Foreign Object Debris (FOD) that might pose a safety risk to flights.
Furthermore, she mentioned that both the FAAN Operations Division and the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) had jointly conducted a comprehensive inspection of the runway surface, confirming its safety for the resumption of operations.
Additionally, an appropriate Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) has been issued regarding this matter.
“We acknowledge the area affected by the overshoot was significantly muddy.
“A concerted effort was made for the thorough and efficient cleaning of the area to facilitate the swift resumption of operations on Runway 18L/36R.
“FAAN wishes to express its gratitude to the traveling public, our airline partners, and all stakeholders for their patience, understanding, and cooperation during the temporary closure.
“We sincerely apologise for any inconvenience this incident may have caused.
“Ensuring the safety and security of our passengers, staff, and airport operations remains our top priority.
“FAAN is committed to providing a safe, secure, and efficient air transport environment for all users of our airports.”
The authority expressed gratitude to everyone for their ongoing support and understanding.