An Enugu airplane carrying 63 passengers and five crew members veered off the runway and ran into the nearby bush after landing at the Benin Airport in Edo State on Thursday, causing panic among travelers and airport officials. This led to a safety investigation and forced Air Peace to halt all flights to and from the airport.
The Embraer E170 aircraft, operating as Flight 4264 from Lagos to Benin with registration 5N-ENR, overran the end of Runway 05 at about 3:10 p.m. local time. Emergency responders, however, confirmed that all passengers and crew members were safely evacuated without injuries.
In a statement issued shortly after the incident, Enugu Air assured the public that all occupants had safely disembarked. The airline said, “Enugu Air wishes to inform the public that one of our aircraft operating into Benin experienced a runway excursion after landing today.
“We confirm that all passengers and crew have safely disembarked and there were no injuries or casualties. The aircraft has been secured, and the relevant aviation authorities have been notified in line with established procedures.”
“As a result, there may be temporary adjustments to some flight schedules. Passengers affected by any changes will be contacted directly and provided with the necessary assistance.”
One of the passengers, Benjamin Mordi, recounted the tense moments onboard, saying the aircraft appeared to touch down unusually late before continuing towards the end of the runway.
“In all, we thank God,” he repeatedly said during a telephone conversation with The PUNCH.
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He added, “I can’t really explain everything, but what we noticed was that the aircraft didn’t touch the ground where it was supposed to land. It landed almost at the end of the runway, and the plane just kept going until God helped us to stop where we eventually stopped.
“We all disembarked safely, and we thank God. It could have been a different story today, but God spared every one of us.”
Following the incident, the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau deployed its Go Team to the airport within minutes to commence a full investigation.
According to the bureau, investigators immediately began preserving evidence, interviewing the flight crew and other relevant personnel, examining the aircraft, assessing runway conditions and reviewing operational and technical records to determine the circumstances surrounding the occurrence.
The bureau also confirmed that the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority and other relevant airport authorities had been notified, while the aircraft had been secured.
Commenting on the incident, the Director-General of the NSIB, Capt. Alex Badeh Jr., said, “We are relieved that all passengers and crew members are safe and that no injuries were reported. While this is reassuring, every runway excursion is a serious occurrence that deserves a thorough and independent investigation.
“Our Go Team was on the ground within minutes of notification, and that speed of response reflects the readiness and professionalism of our investigators. We urge the public to refrain from speculation as our investigators carry out their work in accordance with international standards.”
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