NCAA Investigates How Mangled Corpse Got to MMIA Runway
Chinedu Eze
The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has launched an investigation into how a mangled body got to Runway 18R at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos.
NCAA’s Head of Public Relations, Mr. Sam Adurogboye made this disclosure in a statement yesterday, noting that it was designed to prevent a recurrence of such incidents.
Adurogboye said: “This incident is still being investigated to ascertain how it happened so that steps are taken to prevent a recurrence.”
Police Public Relations Officer, Airport Police Command, Olayinka Ojelade had confirmed that police had started an investigation on the mangled body found on the runway.
Ojelade, a Deputy Superintendent of Police, said the unidentified body might be that of one of the hoodlums who usually jumped through the airport fence.
Ojelade said: “I confirm that a mangled, unidentified body was found on the international airport runway on Thursday which was probably hit by taxiing aircraft.
“We are still investigating the case and once we are through we will communicate to you our findings. The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) and the Nigeria Police Force evacuated the corpse from the runway on Friday,” Ojelade explained.
On Friday, Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) announced that the resumption of flight operations at the airport, closed on Thursday.
FAAN’s Acting General Manager, Corporate Affairs, FAAN, Mrs. Faithful Hope-ivbaze, added that flight operations were closed between 1 a.m. and 3 a.m., on May 19.
Hope-ivbaze confirmed that the airport was shut because the remains of the corpse were found on the runway.
She said flight operations had resumed at the airport, after the removal of the mangled body.
Hope-ivbaze said the operator of a motorised cleaner sweeping the runway found the mangled body at about 1:06 a.m. and notified the relevant departments.
“As a result, between 1:10 a.m. and 3:43 a.m., the runway was temporarily shut to allow for immediate evacuation. Flight operations resumed at 3:43 a.m.,’’ she said.
FAAN’s spokesperson also said that investigations were ongoing and a report would be issued accordingly.
