3 Aircraft Excursion In 9 Months: Experts Question Lagos Runway 18L Integrity

Aviation stakeholders have questioned the integrity of the de-rubberisation of the runway 18L of the Murtala Muhammed Airport (MMA), Lagos over incessant runway excursion experienced by local airlines.

LEADERSHIP reports that In the last eight months, three different airlines have skidded off the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos runway 18L upon landing.

For instance,  a United Nigeria Airlines plane skidded-off the runway, on Friday, September 8, 2023, at around 6:33 pm. The plane, an Embraer ERJ145, with registration number 5N-BWY, was carrying 51 passengers and four crew members en route from Abuja to Lagos.

Also, on 23rd April, 2024, a Dana MD-82 aircraft with 83 passengers and registration number 5N BKI flying from Abuja to Lagos, skidded off of the runway. The airline said the aircraft which flew from Abuja to Lagos, had all passengers and crew safe from any casualty.

“We are relieved to confirm that all 83 passengers and crew onboard the flight disembarked safely without injuries or scares as the crew handled the situation with utmost professionalism,” Dana Air said.

Also, on Saturday, 11th May, 2024, an aircraft belonging to XEJET Airlines also skidded off the runway and landed in the grass at the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos.

The Airbus with registration 5N-BZZ with 52 passengers on board departed Abuja and landed in Lagos at 11.29 am.

“XEJET airlines Aircraft on landing at runway 18L skidded off the runway into the grass verge by B5. The  Aircraft details are 5NBZZ. Fire and rescue officers are on ground to help in evacuation of the passengers. At the moment Runway 18L is closed to traffic,” the statement read.

However, aviation experts have attributed the frequent runway excursion during rainfall to aquaplaning and asked whether the runway has been de-rubberised.

Aquaplaning, also known as hydroplaning, occurs when a layer of water on the runway prevents the aircraft’s tires from making proper contact, causing it to lose traction and slide while de-rubberisation is the periodic removal of rubber deposit of landing aircraft from the runway in other not to make the runway slippery when wet.

Speaking to LEADERSHIP, the chief operating officer, Centurion Aviation Security and Safety Consult, Capt John Ojikutu (rtd), questioned the genuine de-rubberisation of the Lagos airport runway.

He also questioned the adequate and skilled manpower to do the necessary oversight in the auditing, inspections and checks on all the Civil Aviation Operators in the sector.

“What does that tell us? FAAN had claimed that it did the de-rubberisation of the runway two days before the incident (on the Sunday preceding Tuesday the incident day). I have asked before following the Dana incident. Who did the de-rubberisation of the runway?

“Was the agent certified for the job by the NCAA? Was the NCAA informed before or after the de-rubberisation and had conducted inspection before the runway was opened for air traffic landing? Did the NAMA controllers conduct any inspection on the runway after the de-rubberisation before the clearing of aircraft to be landing on the runway? Many questions to ask FAAN the service provider and the NCAA the oversight and enforcement authority of the regulations standards and the best practices. Is the Minister, Festus Keyamo, learning anything from these happenings?” he ended rhetorically.

Speaking further, Ojikutu, wondered if the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), has requisite numbers of inspectors to carry out oversight functions in the sector.

“One other major area we have found ourselves in the current mess is having the adequate and skilled manpower to do the necessary oversight in the auditing, Inspections and checks on all the Civil Aviation Operators and their services which include the over 22 FAAN airports, runways, Taxiways, Avsec.

“The over 100 equipment of National Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), spread in over 30 areas in over 26 airports which include the Air Traffic Control, Radar and navigational aids. Same for the Ground Handling Services and the private aircraft operators.

“Does the NCAA have the manpower skilled in sufficient numbers for all these to do regular periodic audits on each of these options and on each of their services and equipment. Not to forget the operators of over six Airlines and over 100 of their aircraft? This is the job of the Inspector General Office to be doing on the NCAA and other regulators if we have one as available in the US.”

Speaking on the issue, the general secretary, Aviation Round Table Initiative (ARTI), Olumide Ohunayo, said the Xejet airline incident had shown that Dana Airline was vilified and the decision taken by the Minister hastily.

Ohunayo, the head, Research & Corporate Travel at Zenith Travel & Consul, said there is a need to probe the runway.

“Before now, the airlines have been vilified. We have told the world that the problem is from the airline especially concerning the directives of the Minister on Dana Air. Now, we need to look at the runway, because this is the same runway, weather and wet conditions that the aircraft are skidding off.

“Now, we need to look at the approach path management, what happened during the period between the tower and pilot in command. The runway in particular, we need to know why it is always when it’s raining and wet that aircraft skid off.

Has the runway been de-rubberised? If yes, was the company certified to do it? If they are, was it inspected by the regulator to ensure that the appropriate things were done? That’s what we need to look at now.”

“Maybe the minister will now close all the airlines now that it has happened again. The important thing is that we should allow the agencies direct and lead safety related issues. We don’t need directives or interference from the executive except regulatory. Lessons should be learnt and today Dana has asked staff to go home, that is because of the hasty decision of the minister,” Ohunayo stated.