BREAKING: United Nigeria Airlines Suspends Benin Flights

• United Nigeria Airlines has temporarily suspended all flights to and from Benin Airport after the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) shut the airport’s runway.

United Nigeria Airlines has announced the temporary suspension of all flight operations to and from Benin Airport following the closure of the airport’s runway by the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN).

The airline made the announcement in a statement issued on Thursday by its management, explaining that flight operations would remain suspended until aviation authorities complete recovery operations and reopen the runway for normal use.

The development comes just hours after an aircraft operating into Benin Airport veered off the runway while landing, forcing authorities to temporarily shut down the runway to allow for aircraft recovery, safety inspections and operational assessments.

Airline Confirms Flight Suspension

In its official statement, United Nigeria Airlines said the runway closure made it impossible to continue scheduled operations into and out of Benin Airport.

The airline stated:

“We wish to inform our valued passengers and the general public that, due to the closure of the runway by the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) as a result of an excursion, all our flights to and from Benin Airport have been cancelled pending its reopening.”

The carrier noted that the suspension was a necessary safety measure and assured passengers that normal services would resume once FAAN declares the runway safe for flight operations.

Passengers Asked to Rebook Flights

United Nigeria Airlines apologised to passengers affected by the unexpected disruption and advised them to contact its customer service department for assistance with rebooking and other travel arrangements.

The airline said it was committed to supporting affected travellers throughout the disruption.

“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.”

The airline further reassured customers that their welfare remains its top priority.

“We are open to offering any needed assistance because the welfare of our passengers is our priority.”

It also appealed for patience and understanding while aviation authorities work to restore normal operations.

“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.”

Runway Closed After Aircraft Excursion

The runway closure followed an aircraft runway excursion at Benin Airport on Thursday.

An aircraft excursion occurs when an aircraft leaves the runway surface during landing or take-off. Such incidents often require the temporary closure of the affected runway to enable emergency response teams to safely recover the aircraft, inspect airport infrastructure and ensure that flight operations can resume without compromising passenger safety.

The incident has also prompted an investigation by the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) to determine the circumstances surrounding the runway excursion.

According to the NSIB, investigators have already been deployed to the scene to examine the aircraft, assess runway conditions, interview crew members and gather evidence that will help establish the cause of the incident.

Authorities have confirmed that all passengers and crew members involved in the runway excursion were safely evacuated, with no injuries reported.

Benin Airport Operations Temporarily Disrupted

The runway closure has disrupted flight schedules for airlines operating into Benin Airport, with United Nigeria Airlines becoming one of the carriers to suspend services until further notice.

Earlier, Air Peace also announced the suspension of its Benin operations due to the same development.

The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria is expected to reopen the runway after the affected aircraft has been recovered and all required safety inspections have been completed.

Until then, passengers travelling to or from Benin are advised to monitor updates from their airlines and stay in contact with customer service representatives for the latest information regarding flight schedules and alternative travel arrangements.

FAAN has yet to announce when normal flight operations will fully resume at the airport.