Flight operations at the Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu, were disrupted on Thursday evening after an aircraft arriving from Lagos suffered a nose-landing gear malfunction while touching down on Runway 08.
The incident, which occurred around 7:10 p.m., left the aircraft, with registration number 5N-BZN, immobilised on the runway, prompting an immediate shutdown of the airstrip and activation of emergency protocols.
A source at the airport told The PUNCH that the runway was closed immediately after the incident and remained shut as of press time.
In a statement, the spokesperson for the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Henry Agbebire, said emergency teams were swiftly deployed to secure the aircraft and ensure the safety of passengers and crew. Firefighters, medical personnel, and other emergency responders were activated in line with standard procedures.
Agbebire confirmed that all passengers and crew were safely evacuated to the terminal via apron buses. According to FAAN, the evacuation was completed at 19:48 hrs with no injuries recorded. While the agency confirmed the aircraft’s registration number, it did not disclose the operator.
“FAAN’s Aerodrome Rescue and Firefighting Services remained stationed at the site while the aircraft and the surrounding airside area were secured,” the statement read.
Agbebire added that further updates would be provided as more authoritative information becomes available, stressing that passenger and crew safety remains FAAN’s top priority.
Efforts to reach the spokespersons of the Nigeria Safety Investigative Bureau, Mrs. Bimbo Oladeji, and the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority, Mr. Michael Achimugu, were unsuccessful, as calls and text messages seeking clarification went unanswered.
