An aircraft, Embraer 145, belonging to a premium services provider Xejet Airlines has skidded off the runway and plunged into the grass areas at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos State.

The aircraft with 52 passengers and the crew members on board had departed Abuja before the incident at the runway of the Lagos airport.

According to sources at the airport, the 18Left Runway had been closed to aircraft traffic as personnel of the  Aerodrome Fire and Safety Rescue Unit of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) mobilised to the scene of the incident to rescue the passengers.

Xejet Airlines is a business class only airline based in Nigeria. 

“Another aircraft belonging to Xejet Airlines has skidded off the runway at the Lagos Airport . The incident occurred about 11:29 am, as the plane veered into the grass verge by B5.

”The aircraft carries registration mark – 5NBZZ, an Embraer 145 had 52 passengers on board with three crew members.

“Fire and Rescue personnel are on ground to help in evacuation of the passengers. At the moment Runway18L is closed to traffic,” one of them said.

According to reports, on April 23 Dana Air aircraft also skidded off the runway at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos State.
 

The Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) had said it had begun an investigation into the Dana Air incident. 

A photograph of the aircraft obtained had captured the moment after the aircraft moved out of the runway.

It was also gathered that although there was panic, the passengers were evacuated safely and no casualty was recorded from the incident.

However, in a statement by the management of the airline, Dana had noted that the plane flew into Lagos from the Nnamdi Azikiwe Airport, Abuja.

Sahara Reporters