ERJ-145 overran just after Lagos runway re-opened following heavy rain

Nigerian investigators probing an Embraer ERJ-145 overrun at Lagos have revealed that the crew had been forced to hold just before the approach because the runway was closed due to bad weather. The XE Jet aircraft (5N-BZZ) had been inbound from Abuja on 11 May. Some 25min before landing, another flight – operated by United Nigeria Airlines – had executed a missed approach to Lagos’s runway 18L and diverted to Asaba, citing the weather conditions. Heavy rain and thunderstorms were in the vicinity and the runway was subsequently closed, states the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau. The ERJ-145 entered a holding pattern and descended to 5,000ft while the runway remained shut. It stayed in the hold for around 8min before the runway re-opened and the aircraft was cleared for an ILS approach. The crew was informed that heavy rain and thunderstorms were still present and visibility was down to 1,000m, and Lagos approach control asked the pilots’ intentions, given the United Nigeria abort. Story has details.<br/>