FAAN reopens Lagos airport runway after Dana Air incident

Following a short closure due to a Dana Air plane that skidded off the runway on Tuesday, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria has announced the reopening of Runway 18L/36R at Murtala Muhammed Airport in Lagos.

This information was made public on Wednesday in a news release that FAAN's Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Obiageli Orah, signed.

According to the statement, "Runway 18L/36R was reopened for flight operations at 19:58hrs. The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria is pleased to notify the public and all stakeholders."

This event comes after the runway was previously closed this morning owing to an incident involving a Dana Air aircraft, registered 5N-BKI, that overshot the runway during landing practice.

Our emergency response team moved quickly to remove the aircraft from the area and retrieve it. Orah continued, "extensive clearing operations were then carried out to guarantee the runway was clear of any Foreign Object Debris that could compromise flight safety."

The Nigerian Airspace Management Agency and the FAAN Operations Division jointly evaluated the runway surface and determined it safe for operations to resume, according to the statement.
FAAN confirmed that the overshoot had left a large muddy area in its wake, requiring intensive cleaning in order to restore safety.

"To enable the prompt resumption of operations on Runway 18L/36R, a concentrated effort was made for the comprehensive and effective cleaning of the area,” she stated.

"Ensuring the safety and security of our passengers, staff, and airport operations remains our top priority," Orah said in an apology for any inconvenience caused.

FAAN is dedicated to giving all users of our airports a safe, secure, and effective flying experience.

"FAAN would like to thank all parties involved, including the travelling public, our airline partners, and other airlines, for their cooperation, understanding, and patience during the temporary shutdown. The message said, "We deeply regret any trouble this event may have caused.