Runway Excursion At PH International Airport

 RUNWAY EXCURSION AT OMAGWA INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT— PH: AIR PEACE FLIGHT LANDS SAFELY BUT VEERS OFF RUNWAY

+ Njoku Macdonald Obinna

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Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

In a scenario that underscores why Runway Safety Areas (RSAs) matters so deeply, Air Peace’s Flight P47190, arriving from Lagos to Port Harcourt on Sunday morning, skidded slightly off runway 03 shortly after touchdown—ramifying a reality shared across the global aviation community whenever weather, speed, or subtle misalignment combine.

Although the aircraft veered onto the grassy shoulder, all 127 passengers and crew disembarked safely, and no injuries or structural damage were reported  . The airline reaffirmed its commitment to safety and professionalism, noting that the minor runway excursion was successfully managed by the crew and airport staff  .

This incident is not unique. Aviation experts remind us that runway excursions—incidents where an aircraft exits the runway during approach, landing, or takeoff—can occur globally due to wet surfaces, high landing speeds, wind shear, or pilot miscalculations. They happen even at major international airports, reinforcing the essential purpose of runway safety areas—buffer zones designed to accommodate such deviations and minimize damage  .

There have been comparable incidents worldwide: a JetBlue Airbus A220 recently veered into grass after landing in Boston, triggering temporary ground halts but fortunately leaving no casualties  . In Siberia, an Antonov An‑24 slid off the runway during a landing gear collapse, narrowly avoiding a nearby gas station—yet again, no injuries were recorded  . These serve as sobering reminders that even minor deviations can escalate without proper safety infrastructure.

Within Nigeria, Air Peace has encountered similar runway excursions before—including one during heavy rain in Port Harcourt in June 2019, where a Boeing 737 slid into soft ground yet still landed safely.  Aviation regulatory agencies such as the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) and the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) are known to follow up such incidents with investigations and often recommend intensified pilot retraining—especially for landings on wet or slippery runways  .

Experts continue to press for higher standards around pilot vigilance, emergency response readiness, runway drainage and friction assessment, especially in airports experiencing frequent wet weather or traffic congestion  .

While the Port Harcourt incident was classified as a minor runway excursion, it underscores the crucial role of RSAs in safeguarding lives—and speaks to the resilience of the airline’s emergency protocols. As global aviation standards evolve, Nigerian operators and regulators face renewed pressure to adopt engineered solutions and rigorous retraining to ensure incidents like this remain rare and well-contained.