By Damilare Adeleye
An Allied Air cargo aircraft with registration number 5N-JRT has crash-landed at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport (NAIA), in Abuja.
It was learnt that the air mishap happened on Wednesday due to the failure of one of its landing gears.
The incident occurred at approximately 10:05 a.m., involving an E-Cargo aircraft carrying six crew members.
The crew members were promptly evacuated and are currently undergoing medical assessments at the 063 Nigerian Air Force (NAF) medical unit.
Meanwhile, emergency responders acted swiftly to secure the crash site, cordoning off the area under the supervision of the Military Airport Commandant (MAC) and other relevant agencies.
The incident has led to the temporary closure of the airport’s runway, resulting in significant delays to inbound and outbound flights. Passengers and airlines are advised to expect disruptions until further notice.
The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) confirmed the incident in a statement by its Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Mrs. Obiageli Orah.
The statement read: “At 10:05am on December 11, 2024, an Allied Air Cargo aircraft with registration number 5N-JRT skidded off Runway 22 at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja with five (5) souls on board with no reported injury.
“They were all safely evacuated and taken to the FAAN clinic for further checks. The Airport Emergency response team is on the scene along with accident investigators. The runway is being cleared and is expected to reopen for operations as soon as possible.”
“We would like to thank the aviation community and the general public for their understanding and patience. We also request that all speculation be put on hold until the preliminary report is released by the Nigeria Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB),” the statement read.
