An Embraer 145 aircraft operated by premium services provider Xejet Airlines skidded off the runway and landed in the grassy area at Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos State. The incident occurred after the aircraft, carrying 52 passengers and crew, had departed from Abuja.
Sources at the airport revealed that Runway 18Left had been closed to aircraft traffic as personnel from the Aerodrome Fire and Safety Rescue Unit of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) responded to the scene to assist passengers.
Xejet Airlines, a business class only airline based in Nigeria, experienced another runway incident with its aircraft, registration mark 5NBZZ, an Embraer 145, veering off the runway around 11:29 am. Fire and rescue personnel were deployed to aid in the evacuation of passengers, resulting in the closure of Runway 18L.
This incident follows a previous report by SaharaReporters regarding a Dana Air aircraft skidding off the same runway at Murtala Muhammed International Airport. The Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) initiated an investigation into the Dana Air incident, capturing a photograph of the aircraft post-runway excursion.
Despite initial panic, all passengers were safely evacuated, and there were no casualties reported. Dana Air confirmed that the flight originated from Nnamdi Azikiwe Airport in Abuja.