A private jet carrying
about 10 persons onboard including Very Important Personalities (VIPs) has
overshot the Ibadan airport runway in the Oyo State capital.
It was reported that the incident
happened on Friday around 11 am at the Samuel Ladoke Akintola Airport.
The jet with
registration number, N580KR, missed the runway and plummeted into the nearby
bush.
Firefighters and rescue officials
from the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) were immediately deployed
to the scene. But there was no death or casualty recorded.
“It was a
private plane from Abuja. It landed safely but overshot the runway. There was
no casualty,” a spokesperson for the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA),
reported.
Meanwhile, an Abuja-based lawyer, Pelumi Olajengbesi, has
said there is a need for an urgent repair of the Ibadan Airport runway to
guarantee the safety of lives.
“The paramount concern for the safety
of air travel now brings to light the precarious condition of Ibadan Airport’s
runway,” he wrote on Facebook while reacting to Friday’s incident.
“Urgent
action is not just necessary; it is an immediate imperative to avert future
catastrophes. Beyond a mere plea for the convenience of airport users, it is a
heartfelt demand to protect lives.
“We cannot
afford to gamble with the potential repercussions of a delayed response. I
earnestly implore the relevant authorities to swiftly close Ibadan Airport
temporarily and embark on the essential repairs needed for the runway. Let us
prioritize the safety of our citizens and elevate our air travel infrastructure
to the highest standards.”