Flight operations at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, were briefly disrupted on Thursday after a private jet suffered a tyre burst while landing. The incident, which occurred around 2:00 p.m., forced authorities to temporarily shut down the runway as emergency teams moved in to assess the situation and clear the affected aircraft.

According to the Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection at the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Michael Achimugu, the disturbance was caused by a tyre burst from a private aircraft during landing. He confirmed that the plane has since been removed from the runway and normal operations have resumed.

“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 the immediate cause of the tyre burst has not been officially disclosed, airport authorities have not ruled out a possible investigation.

Thursday’s incident adds to a series of runway-related disruptions at the Abuja airport in recent years. On 12 November 2023, a flight operated by Aero Contractors (5N-BYQ) got its nose wheel stuck in a grass verge while exiting the runway, causing a temporary shutdown. Similarly, on 11 December 2024, an Allied Air cargo plane (5N-JRT) skidded off Runway 22, prompting another brief closure as emergency services worked to clear the aircraft.

Despite these incidents, airport officials assure passengers that safety protocols remain strong and that disruptions are handled promptly to minimize impact on flight schedules.