A potentially disastrous incident was averted as a United Nigeria Airline flight, carrying 51 passengers and four crew members, skidded off the local runway during a challenging landing in heavy rainfall this evening.
The incident occurred at the Nnamdi Azikiwe airport, according to a social media user, who posted the video of the incident.
But, Business Day reports that the incident actually happened at the local wing of the Muritala International Airport, Lagos.
The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), in a social media post, said all passengers on board were evacuated successfully without any reported casualties.
The agency said the incident unfolded as the aircraft attempted to land in adverse weather conditions, marked by heavy rainfall, significantly reducing visibility and making runway conditions challenging.
NEMA noted that despite the unfavourable circumstances, the crew’s professionalism and quick thinking helped prevent a more severe incident.
A short statement from NEMA’s X account read:
”A United Nigerian Airline, 51 passengers and 4 Crew United Nigeria airline with registration number 5NBWY skidded off the local runway while trying to land under a very high rainfall at about 1848 hours.
”All passengers evacuated successfully without casualty. The airspace has been opened for operations now.”
NEMA later deleted the post.
See the video of the incident below:
United Nigeria plane skidded off the Runway in Abuja, thankfully there are no loss of lives! pic.twitter.com/ODs9f3bjzb
— Pearls (@MissPearls) September 8, 2023
