Lucky Obukohwo Reporting
United Nigeria Airlines has temporarily suspended all scheduled flights to and from Benin Airport following the closure of the airport’s runway by the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) over safety concerns.
The airline announced the suspension on Thursday, stating that flight operations on the Benin route will remain on hold until aviation authorities complete recovery efforts and certify the runway safe for normal operations.
FAAN ordered the runway’s closure after an aircraft reportedly veered off the runway during landing, triggering safety assessments and recovery procedures to ensure the airfield meets operational standards before reopening.
Confirming the disruption, United Nigeria Airlines said the runway closure has made it impossible to operate flights into and out of Benin Airport, adding that services will resume once the runway is cleared for use by the relevant authorities.
“As a result of the runway closure by the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) following an excursion, all our flights to and from Benin Airport have been cancelled pending its reopening,” the airline said.
The carrier expressed regret over the inconvenience caused to travellers and urged affected passengers to reach out to its customer service channels for rebooking and other travel assistance.
It assured customers that arrangements were being made to minimise the impact of the cancellations, stressing that passenger safety and welfare remain its highest priority.
United Nigeria Airlines also appealed for patience while FAAN concludes recovery work and completes the necessary safety checks required before normal flight operations can resume.
An aircraft excursion occurs when an aircraft leaves the runway during take-off or landing.
Such incidents often result in temporary runway closures to allow for aircraft recovery, damage assessment and safety evaluations before airports are reopened to air traffic.
