Breaking: Flights resume as FG reopens Ibadan airport

Flight operations resumed at the Samuel Ladoke Akintola Airport in Ibadan, Oyo State, on Sunday, following a brief closure by the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria. 

As previously reported by Sunday PUNCH, the airport had been temporarily shut down by the Federal Government while it conducted investigations into a private jet accident that occurred at the facility on Friday night.

The aircraft had crash-landed near the runway, disrupting flight activities at the airport. Accident investigators were dispatched to the scene. However, sources at the airport confirmed to our correspondent on Sunday that the airport had reopened for operations, with a domestic airline already resuming flights.

According to an unnamed senior airport official, “It was shut down briefly for yesterday (Saturday) only, but reopened for operations this (Sunday) morning. Overland resumed flights this (Sunday) morning.”

Officials from the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) had confirmed the aircraft crash on Saturday morning. They stated that investigators from the NSIB were at the scene of the accident and promised to provide further details as they became available.

While no casualties were reported, the aircraft, operated by FLINT AERO, sustained substantial damage. It had 10 passengers and three crew members on board and was en-route from Abuja to Ibadan when it crashed short of the runway in Ibadan.

In a statement issued on Saturday, the Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection at NSIB, James Odaudu, announced that the agency had commenced an investigation into the accident involving an HS 125 aircraft belonging to Flint Aero.

 The aircraft had 10 passengers and three crew members on board and crashed short of the runway while approaching landing at Runway 22, Ibadan Airport.

Odaudu encouraged the public to provide any video clips, relevant evidence, or information that could assist in the investigation.