The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has confirmed that no casualties were recorded after an Air Peace Plane veered off the runway at the Port Harcourt International Airport on Sunday.
According to FAAN, the incident involved an Air Peace Boeing 737 with registration number 5N-BUQ, which skidded off the runway while attempting to land at about 3:32 pm local time during heavy rain.
In a statement released shortly after the incident, FAAN’s Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Obiageli Orah, said all 94 passengers and six crew members were safely evacuated from Air Peace plane with no injuries reported.
“The aircraft landed safely but skidded off the runway. There was no casualty, and all passengers were safely disembarked,” FAAN said.
Emergency response teams, including FAAN’s Aerodrome Rescue and Firefighting Services, were immediately deployed and successfully secured the area. Runway operations were temporarily suspended to enable clearance and ensure safety for subsequent flights.
FAAN assured the public that investigations into the incident are ongoing in collaboration with relevant aviation authorities, including the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) and the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB).
The authority also reiterated its commitment to safety across all airports in Nigeria.
Air Peace Limited, in a statement released by its spokesperson, Osifo-Whiskey Efe, claimed that the “aircraft veered slightly off the run away without causing any damage”, noting that passengers were safely disembarked following the incident involving the Air Peace plane.
However, the statement by the airline drew some backlash online as many were quick to ask the carrier to pay more attention to passenger’s safety and stop making light of the situation that could have potentially cost many passengers their lives.
As of the time of reporting, normal flight operations have resumed at the airport.
