Flight operations at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport (NAIA), Abuja, were briefly disrupted on Thursday after a private jet experienced a tyre burst while landing, leading to a temporary closure of the runway.
The incident occurred at about 2:00 p.m., forcing airport authorities to halt operations as emergency teams moved swiftly to remove the aircraft from the runway.
Confirming the development, the Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection at the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Michael Achimugu, said the situation had been brought under control.
“I was informed that a private aircraft experienced a tyre burst on landing. But it has been cleared off the runway and operations are back to normal,” Achimugu stated.
Although normal operations have since resumed, authorities have not yet provided details on what caused the tyre burst or whether a formal investigation will follow.
Thursday’s disruption adds to a series of recent runway incidents at the Abuja airport.
On November 12, 2023, an Aero Contractors aircraft (5N-BYQ) became stuck while exiting the runway after its nose wheel got stuck in the grass verge, resulting in a temporary runway closure.
Similarly, on December 11, 2024, a cargo plane operated by Allied Air (5N-JRT) skidded off Runway 22, prompting another temporary shutdown while emergency crews worked to clear the aircraft.
Travelers have now been advised to check with their airlines for updated flight information as normal operations continue.