The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) yesterday announced the reopening of Runway 18L/36R following the closure of the facility earlier that day.
The facility was temporary shut yesterday as a precautionary measure following the incident of runway excursion involving a Dana Air’s McDonnell Douglas MD-82 aircraft.
Spokesperson for FAAN, Mrs Obiageli Orah said in a statement that prompt actions were taken by “our emergency response team to evacuate and recover the aircraft from the site” after the incident.
Subsequently, she said comprehensive clearing operations were conducted to ensure the runway was free of any foreign object debris that could impede flight safety.
Orah further said the FAAN operations division and the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) also jointly conducted a thorough inspection of the runway surface and deemed it safe for the resumption of operations.
“An appropriate notice to airmen (NOTAM) has been issued in this regard.
“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,” she added.
Orah expressed FAAN’s gratitude to the traveling public, “our airline partners, and all stakeholders for their patience, understanding, and cooperation during the temporary closure” and apologized for any inconvenience the incident might 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,” she added.
