Flights cancelled, passengers stranded on Abuja airport runway closure

Several flights into and out of Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport Abuja have been cancelled, leaving many passengers stranded as a result of the runway shut down, following Max Air aircraft’s emergency landing Sunday.

The incident which also disrupted flight schedules to several other states in the country has left several passengers stranded across the country.

As of Monday morning, the ripple effects of the flight cancellations on Sunday persists, affecting flights as airlines struggle to handle Sunday backlog.

Air Peace airline, in a statement about the disruption said it has cancelled several flights on Sunday due to the Abuja runway closure caused by the incident.

Air Peace listed routes disrupted by the airport closure on Sunday to include Owerri-Abuja, Abuja-Owerri, Abuja-Benin, Calabar-Abuja, Benin-Abuja and Warri-Lagos routes.

“The closure has also led to the delay of other flights into and out of Abuja. We empathise with passengers affected and seek their understanding and cooperation,” the airline added.

The runway at Abuja airport which was hitherto closed following an emergency landing by an aircraft belonging to Max Air flying from Yola today is set to reopen after the aircraft was towed away from the runway.

The recovery team at the NAIA has removed the aircraft and the runway has been inspected and cleaned for reopening.

“The incident plane has been removed. What remains now is the sweeping of the runway in readiness for its re-opening for further flight operations.
NCAA Safety Inspectors are on ground for the necessary regulatory oversight,”
Sam Adurogboye, general manager, Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority said.

The aircraft was said to have had two burst tires from point of origin ( Yola) but made an emergency landing at Abuja airport.

MaxAir in a statement confirming the accident said, “On May 7th, 2023, a Max Air flight with 143 passengers and 01 infant on board, departing from Yola at around 14:05, was scheduled to arrive in Abuja at 15:00. However, the aircraft experienced two tire bursts on landing in Abuja, and the emergency response team quickly responded at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport.

“We are pleased to report that all passengers and crew on board the aircraft are safe and sound. The airline has taken all necessary steps to ensure that the passengers are comfortable and are being taken care of during this time. They have been conveyed to the arrival terminal with their luggage and belongings.”Flights cancelled, passengers stranded over Abuja airport runway closure.

Ifeoma Okeke-Korieocha

Ifeoma Okeke-Korieocha is the Aviation Correspondent at BusinessDay Media Limited, publishers of BusinessDay Newspapers. She is also the Deputy Editor, BusinessDay Weekender Magazine, the Saturday Weekend edition of BusinessDay. She holds a BSC in Mass Communication from the prestigious University of Nigeria, Nsukka and a Masters degree in Marketing at the University of Lagos. As the lead writer on the aviation desk, Ifeoma is responsible and in charge of the three weekly aviation and travel pages in BusinessDay and BDSunday. She also overseas and edits all pages of BusinessDay Saturday Weekender. She has written various investigative, features and news stories in aviation and business related issues and has been severally nominated for award in the category of Aviation Writer of the Year by the Nigeria Media Nite-Out awards; one of the Nigeria’s most prestigious media awards ceremonies. Ifeoma is a one-time winner of the prestigious Nigeria Media Merit Award under the 'Aviation Writer of the Year' Category. She is the 2025 Eloy Award winner under the Print Media Journalist category. She has undergone several journalism trainings by various prestigious organisations. Ifeoma is also a fellow of the Female Reporters Leadership Fellowship of the Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism.