United Nigeria Airlines has temporarily halted all scheduled flights to and from Benin Airport after the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) shut the airport’s runway citing safety concerns after an aircraft runway excursion.

The airline announced the suspension on Thursday, explaining that flight operations on the Benin route would remain on hold until aviation authorities complete recovery efforts and declare the runway safe for use.

The runway was closed after an aircraft reportedly veered off the runway while landing at the airport, prompting FAAN to begin safety inspections and recovery operations.

Confirming the disruption, United Nigeria Airlines said the closure had made it impossible to continue operations into the airport.

“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 stated.

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. (The Sun News)