Xejet Aircraft that skidded off the Runway 18L of the Murtala Muhammed Airport (MMA), Lagos is still trapped on the grass verge, LEADERSHIP can report.
LEADERSHIP reports that the incident happened around 11:29am on Saturday, during heavy downpour at the airport.
However, as at the time of filing this report early Sunday morning, the aircraft was still trapped and the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), is yet to reopen runway 18L to aircraft landing.
Confirming the report, the Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), Dr. Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, in a statement, titled, ‘Preliminary Report On The Runway Incident At Local Airport, Ikeja,’ said the recovery of the aircraft from the grass verge was suspended due to night fall on Saturday.
According to him, emergency responders are to re-converge on Sunday morning to continue the recovery process.
“The agency received a distress call via its emergency toll-free numbers, 112/767 regarding an airplane 5N -BZZ which skidded off the runway while landing and got stuck in the mud, on Saturday, 11th May, 2024 at the Local Airport, Ikeja, at about 3:03pm.
“This prompted the immediate deployment of the Agency’s Response Team to the scene of the incident. Fortunately, no casualties were recorded from the incident.
“After painstaking efforts by the Agency’s Response Team and other stakeholders to recover the airplane proved abortive, the FAAN Regional Director, Mr. Arewa advised that the recovery operations should be suspended due to nightfall and emergency responders to re-converge on Sunday morning. Recovery operations suspended. LASEMA Response Team and equipment have headed back to base,” Dr Oke-Osanyintolu, stated.
Other agencies participating in the LASEMA Response Team include officials of the airport, FAAN Fire Service and Aviation Security.
