The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has officially announced the operational reopening of Runway 18L/36R at Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos following its temporary closure after a Dana Air aircraft went off the runway last Tuesday.
Obiageli Orah, FAAN’s Head of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, said this through a press release on Wednesday.
In the statement, Leah said: “The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria is glad to inform the public and all stakeholders that Runway 18L/36R has been reopened for flight operations from 19:Up up or in you58hrs. This follows an incident today where a Dana Air plane with registration number 5N-BKI ran out of the runway while landing leading to shutdown earlier in the day.
“We had our emergency response team in place who immediately evacuated and recovered the plane from there before we ensured that it was entirely free from any FOD that could jeopardize air travel.”
According to the statement, FAAN Operations Division worked hand in hand with Nigerian Airspace Management Agency in conducting a thorough assessment on the state of surface in readiness for resumption.
Region affected by the aircraft leaving the runway was noted to be quite muddy hence major cleaning operations had to be done for safety standards to be restored.
“An exhaustive effort paid attention to in-depth and efficient cleansing of the area so as to facilitate faster resumption of activities on Runway 18L/36R,” added Orah.
Orah also apologised for any disruptions caused, stating “Our passengers, personnel, and airport operations are our central focus when it comes to protecting their safety and security at all times.”
“FAAN will never stop its dedication in making sure that all our airports remain secure, safe and effective places for everyone who uses them.
“FAAN would like to appreciate the travelling public, our airline partners and all other stakeholders for their patience, understanding and cooperation during this time when the runway was not available. We profoundly regret any inconvenience this incident may have caused”, read part of the press statement.