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“We wish to inform our valued passengers and the general public that, due to the closure of the runway by the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) as a result of an excursion, all our flights to and from Benin Airport have been cancelled pending its reopening.”
United Nigeria Airlines has suspended all flights to and from Benin Airport after the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) shut the airport’s runway following an aircraft runway excursion.
The airline announced the decision in a statement issued on Thursday, saying services would remain suspended until the runway is declared safe and reopened by the aviation authorities.
The move followed an earlier incident in which an aircraft belonging to Enugu Air landed at Benin Airport before leaving the runway. The occurrence prompted officials to close the runway while recovery work, inspections and safety assessments are carried out.
Explaining the disruption, the airline said: “We wish to inform our valued passengers and the general public that, due to the closure of the runway by the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) as a result of an excursion, all our flights to and from Benin Airport have been cancelled pending its reopening.”
United Nigeria Airlines expressed regret over the inconvenience caused to travellers and advised affected passengers to get in touch with its customer service team for assistance with alternative travel plans and rebooking.
The statement added: “We sincerely regret any inconvenience this may have caused. All passengers who have been affected by this development are advised to contact our customer service for further information and any assistance needed with rebooking.
“We are open to offering any needed assistance because the welfare of our passengers is our priority.”
The carrier also appealed for patience as efforts continue to restore normal operations.
It said: “We plead for your understanding at this time and sincerely apologise again for any inconvenience this may have caused. We appreciate your patience and are immensely grateful for your trust in United Nigeria Airlines.”
A runway excursion occurs when an aircraft leaves the designated runway during take-off or landing. Such incidents usually require temporary closure of the affected runway to allow recovery of the aircraft, examination of airport facilities and safety checks before commercial operations resume.
