The Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) said it has commenced investigation into the runway incident that occurred on Tuesday morning in Lagos.
The incident involved a Dana Airline McDonnell Douglas MD-83 aircraft, which skidded off the runway at the domestic wing of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos.
Mrs Bimbo Olawumi Oladeji, the Director, Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB), in a statement said the incident occurred around past 9:00am local time.
She noted that preliminary fact-finding revealed that the Dana Airlines flight 9J0352 (registration number 5N- BKI) carrying 83 passengers and six crew members, departed Abuja at 8:20am local time and arrived in Lagos around 9:20am.
According to NSIB, the incident occurred under heavy downpour and the runway 18L surface was wet.
“Thankfully there are no reported fatalities or injuries. As a precautionary measure, Runway 18L at MMA was temporarily closed following the incident.
“We have commenced an investigation to determine the full circumstances surrounding the runway incursion event involving Dana Airline MD-83 aircraft with registration marking 5N-BKI,” the Director General of NSIB, Captain Alex Badeh Jr. said.
Similarly, the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), in a statement, said upon landing at MMIA, noticed the aircraft had skidded off the runway and the nosewheel – landing gear was resting on the grass.
It said that all passengers and crew disembarked and were evacuated safely while Runway 18L was closed.
“The NCAA reiterates its avowed commitment to a safe and secure aviation sector. In furtherance to this commitment, the Authority will be looking to implement the safety recommendations expected from the NSIB investigation while it carries out its own in-house safety assessment of the occurrence,” the statement from NCAA signed by the acting Director General, Captain Chris Najomo, noted.
