United Nigeria Airlines has now stopped flights to and from Benin Airport. This follows a decision by the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) to close the runway after an incident involving an Enugu Air plane on Thursday.
The airline announced on Thursday evening that all its flights to and from the airport have been cancelled until the runway opens again. Air Peace had already announced it would stop its Benin flights before United Nigeria Airlines made its own announcement, due to the ongoing runway closure.
In a statement, United Nigeria Airlines said this suspension was necessary because of FAAN's directive.
“We wish to inform our valued passengers and the general public that, due to the closure of the runway by the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) as a result of an excursion, all our flights to and from Benin Airport have been cancelled pending its reopening,” the airline said.
The airline expressed regret to affected passengers and encouraged them to reach out to customer service for help with rebooking and travel arrangements.
“We sincerely regret any inconvenience this may have caused. All passengers affected by this development are advised to contact our customer service for further information and assistance with rebooking. We are committed to offering any necessary support, as the welfare of our passengers remains our priority,” they added in their statement.
The airline also asked for the public's patience while authorities work to restore normal flight services. “We plead for your understanding at this time and sincerely apologise again for the inconvenience. We appreciate your patience and are immensely grateful for the trust you place in United Nigeria Airlines.”
This disruption comes after an incident on Thursday with an Enugu Air Embraer E170. The plane was operating flight 4264 from Lagos to Benin when it veered off the runway after landing.
Premium Times reported that Enugu Air confirmed all 63 passengers and five crew members got off safely, with no injuries or deaths. The aircraft has been secured, and aviation authorities have been informed according to safety protocols.
The Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) is looking into the incident. Investigators are examining the aircraft, checking runway conditions, interviewing the flight crew and other relevant personnel, and reviewing operational records to find out what caused the occurrence.
Runway closures are a common safety measure after aircraft incidents. This allows emergency responders to secure the area, recover the aircraft, gather evidence for investigators, and carry out necessary safety checks before flights can resume.
The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) is overseeing the regulations, while FAAN will reopen the runway once recovery operations and safety checks are successfully completed.
Drop your comment
No comments yet — be the first to drop the gist 👇