An Enugu Air aircraft on Thursday veered off the runway after landing at Benin Airport, triggering an emergency response and a temporary disruption of flight operations at the airport.
The aircraft, an Embraer E170 with registration 5N-ENR, was operating Flight 4264 when it experienced what aviation authorities described as a runway excursion shortly after touchdown.
All passengers and crew members on board were safely evacuated, with no injuries or fatalities recorded.
Confirming the incident in a statement, Enugu Air said the aircraft had been secured while the relevant aviation authorities had been notified in accordance with established safety procedures.
“We confirm that all passengers and crew have safely disembarked and there were no injuries or casualties,” the airline said.
It added that investigations had commenced to determine the circumstances surrounding the occurrence.
“The aircraft has been secured and the relevant aviation authorities have been notified in line with established procedures. An assessment of the aircraft and the circumstances surrounding the occurrence is currently underway,” the statement added.
The airline also warned that the incident could lead to temporary adjustments to some of its flight schedules.
“Passengers affected by any changes will be contacted directly and provided with the necessary assistance. The safety of our passengers, crew and operations remains our highest priority,” Enugu Air stated.
Meanwhile, the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) has launched an investigation into the incident.
The Bureau said a Go Team was immediately deployed to Benin Airport to secure evidence, inspect the aircraft and runway, and interview the flight crew as part of efforts to determine the cause of the runway excursion.
According to the NSIB, the aircraft was operating from Lagos to Benin with 63 passengers and five crew members on board when it overran the end of the runway after landing.
“Everyone on board was safely evacuated and no injuries were recorded,” the Bureau said, adding that a preliminary report would be released within 30 days, while a final report containing safety recommendations would follow after the conclusion of investigations.
The NSIB urged the public to avoid speculation while investigations are ongoing, stressing that the objective of the inquiry is to establish the cause of the occurrence and improve aviation safety rather than apportion blame.
