Airport runway closed as passenger aircraft crash-lands in Abuja

A Boeing 737 passenger jet belonging to Aero contractors Airlines crash-lands at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja on Sunday morning.

Although no injury or fatality was recorded, the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau, an agency of the Federal Government, confirmed that the aircraft got involved in a “serious accident” around 10.47 am upon arriving at the NAIA from Lagos.

The Director, Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, NSIB, James Odaudu, confirmed this in a statement issued in Abuja on Sunday, adding that investigations into the accident.

“The Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau has been notified and has commenced an investigation into a serious incident involving a Boeing 737 with nationality and registration marks 5N-BYQ belonging to Aero contractors Airlines, which occurred around 10:47 am (local time) on November 12, 2023.

“The aircraft upon landing at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja from Lagos and in a bid to exit the runway via A4 had its nose wheel stuck in the grass verge with its fuselage on the runway.

“Consequently, the runway was closed pending the towing of the aircraft from the runway. There was no injury or fatality.”

It could be recalled that last week Friday, a private jet conveying the Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, from Abuja to Ibadan crash-landed at the Ibadan airport in Oyo State.

Although no injury nor fatality was recorded during that incident, investigations into the serious accident are still ongoing by the NSIB.

Meanwhile, the NSIB, on Sunday, called for information from the general public in the form of pictures, video, or recording evidence to assist in conducting a comprehensive investigation into the accident at the Abuja airport.

“The bureau can be reached through info@aib.gov.ng and NSIB_Nigeria on its social media platforms. The Bureau can also be reached on its emergency line +234-807-709-0909.

“The NSIB will appreciate that the general public and press respect the privacy of the people on board and not assume the cause of the serious incident until a formal report is released,” it stated.

The NSIB is a multimodal investigation agency charged with the mandate to investigate transportation accidents and serious incidents in Nigeria to identify the probable causes and proffer safety recommendations that can prevent reoccurrence.

The bureau said it would release the preliminary report as soon as possible.