A RwandAir passenger plane with about 60 people on board skidded off the runway while landing at the Entebbe International Airport in Uganda early Wednesday.

According to the Uganda Civil Aviation Authority, the passengers and crew disembarked safely.

The RwandaAir flight from Nairobi overshot the runway as it was landing at 5.31am.

In a statement, Rwanda’s national carrier RwandAir, said, “RwandAir can confirm that flight WB464 was involved in an incident at 05:31 this morning, which led to the aircraft veering off the runway upon landing into Entebbe during adverse weather.

“All customers and crew were evacuated safely, and no injuries were reported. The situation is under control and RwandAir are in contact with all affected customers,” they added.

“The aircraft is currently being recovered, so Entebbe’s runway can return to use.

“Our Flight Crew are highly trained for all eventualities, including flying in adverse weather conditions.

“We are working closely with the local authorities, including the Ugandan Civil Aviation Authority, who will investigate the circumstances around the incident.

“The safety of our customers and crew is always our highest priority.” 

Uganda’s Civil Aviation Authority said the second (alternate) runway 12/30 was operational for small and light aircrafts to use as the main one was being cleared.

“All efforts are underway to remove the aircraft from the runway strip so that the main runway can return to full use,” the aviation authority said in a statement.

While investigations are ongoing to establish the cause of the incident, sources at the airport blamed poor markings on the new runway and poor visibility instigated by the morning downpour.

This is not the first time a plane has skidded off the runway.

In January 2019, an Ethiopian Airlines (Boeing 737-800) carrying 139 people skidded off the runway when it landed at just after midnight.