Bush fire: FAAN re-opens closed PH airport to flights

 

Posted by Sade Williams

 

Following a careful evaluation and mitigation of the impact of the bush fire earlier reported around the Port Harcourt International Airport and the dissipation of smokes around the airside, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) said it has has now re-opened the airport to flight operations.

 

 

The Authority in a statement signed by its spokesperson, Mrs. Henrietta Yakubu, said normal flight activities has therefore re-commenced at the airport.

 

 

FAAN had temporarily closed the runway of the Port Harcourt International Airport, Omagwa airport to operations for some minutes due to a bush fire incident which occurred near the active area (Runway) of the airport.

 

The Authority had said it the airport as part of safety precautions.

 

According to the statement earlier issued, the FAAN said: A joint team from the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria and the Nigeria Airspace Management Agency is presently evaluating the situation with a view to ensuring that the airside is cleared of smoke and restoration of normalcy at the airport.

 

 

The Bush fire had hampered flights from taking off while it caused passenger stranding at the airport.

 

 

For instance, Max Air could not take off from the airport while Dana Air Flight 368 from Abuja to Port-Harcourt with 124 passengers, had to return to Abuja due to the incident.