A Germany-bound Lufthansa flight was forced to offload 45 passengers and luggage of about 200 fully booked travelers from its Abuja-Frankfurt flight due to runway safety concerns at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport.
A large hole had developed at one end of the airport’s 3,610-meter runway, prompting authorities from the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) to cordon off that section, drastically reducing the available runway length for departing aircraft.
The pilot of the Airbus A330-300 had to reduce the weight of the aircraft to ensure a safe takeoff, which led to the offloading of passengers and baggage.
The affected passengers were taken to the Abuja Continental Hotel, and their flight was rescheduled for Sunday, July 27, 2025.
The incident has left many passengers frustrated, with some considering a class-action lawsuit against Lufthansa.
FAAN has since shut down the runway for repair work and issued a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) to all airlines using Abuja Airport.
