FAAN reopens runway 18L/36R after Dana Air crash-landing

The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has announced the reopening of runway 18L/36R for flight operations at about 8.00 p.m. after the Dana Air crash-landing.

This decision follows the earlier closure of the runway on Tuesday morning due to an incident involving a Dana Air aircraft, with registration number 5N-BKI, which crash-landed.

Obiageli Orah, Director of Public Affairs & Consumer Protection at FAAN, stated in Lagos, confirming the reopening.

She explained that FAAN’s emergency response team promptly evacuated and recovered the aircraft from the site, followed by comprehensive clearing operations to ensure the runway was free of any Foreign Object Debris (FOD) that could affect flight safety.

“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 travelling 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”.

Both the FAAN Operations division and the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) 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 accordingly.

Acknowledging that the area affected by the overshoot was muddy, FAAN made concerted efforts to thoroughly clean the area, facilitating the swift resumption of operations on Runway 18L/36R.

FAAN expressed gratitude to the travelling public, airline partners, and all stakeholders for their patience, understanding, and cooperation during the temporary closure.

The authority apologized for any inconvenience caused by the incident, reaffirming its commitment to ensuring the safety, security, and efficiency of air transport environments at all Nigerian airports.