BENIN CITY, Nigeria — All 63 passengers and five crew members aboard an Enugu Air Embraer E170 regional jet escaped without injury Thursday afternoon after the aircraft overran the end of the runway at Benin Airport in Edo State and veered into the surrounding bush, triggering an emergency response, a formal safety investigation, and the temporary suspension of all flights at the airport.
The incident, which occurred at approximately 3:10 p.m. local time, sent panic through the airport and left family members waiting to receive passengers praying openly outside the terminal before news of everyone’s safety emerged.
What We Know So Far
The aircraft, operating as Flight 4264 with registration 5N-ENR on the Lagos to Benin route, overran the end of Runway 05 during landing and came to rest in bush beyond the runway boundary, the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau confirmed in a formal statement Thursday.
The NSIB confirmed all 63 passengers and five crew members were safely accounted for and no injuries were recorded. Emergency responders evacuated everyone from the aircraft without casualties, Punch Nigeria confirmed.
Passenger Benjamin Mordi, who was aboard the flight, described the terrifying sequence of events in a telephone conversation with Punch Nigeria. “What we noticed was that the aircraft did not 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,” Mordi said.
Family members who had gathered at the airport to receive passengers were seen shouting praises and rushing some individuals to hospital for precautionary checks, even as official sources confirmed no injuries, the Sun Nigeria reported. Earlier accounts suggested some passengers may have sustained minor injuries, though the NSIB’s formal statement did not confirm any casualties.
Enugu Air issued a public statement shortly after the incident confirming all occupants had safely disembarked. “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,” the airline said. It warned that some flight schedules might face temporary adjustments and said affected passengers would be contacted directly.
The runway excursion forced the temporary closure of the airport, which in turn prompted Air Peace to suspend all flights to and from Benin. In a statement, Air Peace described the disruption as beyond its control and appealed to affected passengers for patience while airport authorities worked to restore normal operations.
What Authorities Are Saying
The NSIB said its Go Team was deployed to the accident site within minutes of notification and immediately began gathering and preserving evidence. Investigators began interviewing the flight crew and other relevant personnel, examining the aircraft, assessing runway conditions, and reviewing operational and technical records to determine the contributing factors.
NSIB Director-General Captain Alex Badeh Jr. addressed the public directly in a statement that balanced relief with seriousness. “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,” Badeh said, Punch Nigeria confirmed.
The bureau confirmed that the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority and other relevant airport authorities had been notified and that the aircraft had been secured at the scene. A preliminary report will be issued within 30 days in line with regulatory requirements, with a final investigation report including safety recommendations to follow upon completion of the full inquiry.
A Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria staff member at the scene declined to comment, saying the investigation would be carried out by the appropriate authorities and reports forwarded to the head office, the Sun Nigeria confirmed. Enugu Air staff at the airport similarly declined to speak on the record about the incident.
Why This Matters
Runway excursions are classified as serious aviation occurrences under international safety standards and demand independent investigation regardless of whether injuries occur. The fact that all 68 people aboard survived without harm is a significant relief, but the circumstances of the incident raise questions that the investigation will need to address.
Passenger accounts suggest the aircraft touched down significantly later than normal along the runway, reducing the available distance for deceleration before the runway end. Early reports cited heavy rainfall as a possible contributing factor, raising questions about whether the approach was continued in conditions that should have prompted a go-around, whether the aircraft’s braking systems performed as designed, whether the runway surface conditions were within acceptable limits for landing, and whether the crew had accurate information about those conditions before committing to the approach.
Nigeria’s aviation sector has faced scrutiny in recent years over safety standards, aging aircraft, and the regulatory environment within which carriers operate. Enugu Air is a relatively young carrier in the Nigerian market, and the performance of both the airline and the NSIB in responding to this incident will be watched by the industry, passengers, and regulators.
The disruption to Benin Airport also has immediate economic consequences for the Edo State capital, whose airport serves as a vital transport hub for the region. The suspension of Air Peace services, combined with whatever operational adjustments Enugu Air implements, will affect passenger movement and cargo logistics until the runway is reopened and normal operations resume.
What Happens Next
The NSIB investigation is now the primary process through which the causes of the runway excursion will be established. The 30-day preliminary report deadline gives investigators a defined near-term deadline, though the full investigation may take considerably longer depending on what evidence emerges from the aircraft’s flight data recorder, cockpit voice recorder, runway condition assessments, and crew interviews.
Enugu Air said affected passengers would be contacted directly about flight schedule changes. Air Peace confirmed its suspension of Benin services would remain in effect until airport authorities restored normal runway operations.
The NSIB called on all aviation stakeholders to cooperate fully with the investigation and to prioritize safety across the industry. For the 68 people who walked away from the excursion on Thursday afternoon, the outcome was the best possible one. For the regulators and investigators now examining exactly how the aircraft ended up in the bush, the work of ensuring it does not happen again is only just beginning.
Sources: The Sun Nigeria; PunchOnline
