Harmattan Haze Disrupts Flight Operations At Yola Airport

A heavy harmattan haze on Friday disrupted flight operations at Yola International Airport and aborted the movement of air passengers.

The Tide On Sunday source reports that many passengers could not travel as airlines cancelled their flights because of the bad weather.

Mr Moses Williams, the Manager of Nigerian Airspace Management Agency in Yola, said that aircraft could not fly because of poor visibility.

“The bad weather is affecting the service of the airport as aircraft are not flying because of poor visibility,” he said.

Williams said since Thursday evening, no aircraft had taken off or landed at the airport, adding that one aircraft from Abuja was sent back because of the haze.

“Yesterday, an IRS aircraft with passengers from Abuja was sent back to Abuja because of bad weather and the safety of the passengers on board,” he said.

Also, Mr Ibrahim Ajao, the officer on duty of the Nigerian Meteorological Agency, said the weather was affecting flight operations.

Ajao said the target visibility for aircraft to take off or land was devastated by the haze, which originated from the trans-Atlantic wind from the Sahara Desert.

“From now till the next three days ,we are expecting that the dust will be over,’’ he said, and added that if the situation persisted, it could be linked to the effect of global warming.

He said the dust measured between 200m and 300m and as such it was not favourable to flying.

Ajao advised motorists to put on their head lamps while driving, while people wear masks to protect themselves.