Lufthansa Airlines on Wednesday offloaded 45 passengers and all checked-in luggage from its Abuja-Frankfurt flight due to safety concerns arising from runway damage at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.
The decision followed the partial closure of the airport’s 3,610-meter runway after a large hole developed at one end, forcing the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) to cordon off that section. As a result, aircraft were restricted to taking off from a shorter portion of the runway.
The affected flight, operated with an Airbus A330-300—a wide-body aircraft typically requiring a longer takeoff roll—had to reduce weight to safely depart using the shortened runway. This led to the removal of some passengers and all baggage.
Speaking to THISDAY, Aero Contractors CEO and experienced pilot, Captain Ado Sanusi, explained that weight reduction is a necessary safety measure when aircraft operate on shortened runways. “To gain thrust and take off from a limited runway length, the aircraft must reduce its weight,” he said.
A passenger affected by the incident told THISDAY that those removed from the flight were taken to Abuja Continental Hotel around 4:00 a.m. on Thursday and rescheduled for a new flight on Sunday, July 27—four days after their original departure date. The passenger described the scene as chaotic, with confusion over who would be allowed to travel and dissatisfaction over the offloading of luggage from even those who boarded the flight.
“The flight, originally scheduled for 10:20 p.m., was delayed to 10:50 p.m. and eventually departed much later without any checked-in baggage,” the passenger added. “It was disheartening. Some travelers had to miss important work and appointments.”
According to reports, the pilot briefly considered aborting the flight due to poor weather conditions and uncertainty about the extent of the runway damage. This raised concerns that pilots had not been adequately informed about the runway limitations via a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM), which is standard aviation protocol.
Sources told THISDAY that the damaged section of the runway had been left unrepaired for some time despite repeated reports to FAAN. Some airport staff expressed frustration over the delay in addressing the hazard, noting that prior warnings to airport management had gone unheeded.
In response, FAAN announced a brief runway closure from midnight Thursday to 4:00 a.m. Friday for emergency repairs. The agency described the damaged area as a “depression” and confirmed that a NOTAM has now been issued to notify all airlines of the runway limitations.
Meanwhile, affected passengers are reportedly considering legal action against Lufthansa for the disruption and losses incurred due to the incident.
