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The incident involving a United Nigeria Airlines fleet aircraft is being looked into by the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB).
The agency also revealed that the aircraft was an Embraer ERJ145 with the registration marks 5N-BWY and the nationality of the United States.
“The Bureau has been notified and commenced investigation into a serious incident involving an Embraer ERJ145 with Nationality and Registration Marks: 5N-BWY belonging to United Nigeria Airlines, which occurred around 06:33pm (Local Time) on September 8, 2023,” the NSIB stated in a statement.
“The aircraft left Sam Mbakwe International Cargo Airport in Owerri, Imo State for Lagos with 51 passengers and 4 staff members on board.
“During landing at Murtala Muhammed Airport in Ikeja, Lagos, the aircraft went off the runway. No one was hurt or killed.
“In order to aid in conducting a thorough investigation, the NSIB hereby requests information from the general public in the form of photographs, videos, or audio recordings.
“The Bureau can be reached through info@aib.gov.ng and NSIB_Nigeria on its social media platforms. The Bureau can also be reached on its emergency line +234-807-709-0909.”
Nevertheless, the agency pleaded with the general public and the media to respect the privacy of those affected “and NOT assume the cause of the serious incident until a formal report is released.”
The preliminary report will be made public soon, the bureau stated.
United Nigeria Airlines, however, acknowledged on Saturday that flight U5 0513, which was carried out by an aircraft with the registration 5N-BWY, aquaplaned upon touchdown at Murtala Mohammed Airport in Lagos as a result of a rainfall.
The aircraft, which was arriving from the Sam Mbakwe International Cargo Airport in Owerri, landed normally but went off the runway, according to airline spokesperson Achilleus-Chud Uchegbu.
He said:” All passengers have also been safely evacuated alongside with their luggage. No passenger was hurt in the incident.
“The incident has been reported to the appropriate authorities.
“United Nigeria Airlines places the highest premium on passenger safety. We reassure our customers that we cherish their security and won’t take any chances with it. We will continue to make every effort, as we always have, to make sure that all of our passengers reach their destinations safely.
According to the Nigeria Civil Authority (NCAA), there are no intentions to install the Runway 18R airfield lights of Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos, in place of the runway lights at Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport (MAKIA), Kano.
The organization’s director general, Captain Musa Nuhu, denied rumors that the removal was ordered by Olorogun Festus Keyamo, the minister of aviation and aerospace development.
The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Mr. Festus Keyamo, allegedly ordered the removal of airfield lights at Mallam Aminu Kano International to replace the missing airfield lights at Runway 18R at Murtala Muhammad International Airport Lagos. The report that has gone viral in the social media has been reported to the Nigeria Civil Authority (NCAA).
“The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), the country’s regulatory body for civil aviation, wishes to inform the public to disregard the report as it is not aware of any directive to remove any of the various airfield light systems at Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport,” the agency says in a statement.
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