68 passengers escape unhurt after Enugu Air aircraft veers off runway into bush in Benin (video)

Sixty-eight passengers narrowly escaped what could have become another major aviation disaster on Thursday after an Enugu Air aircraft overshot the runway while landing at Benin Airport in Edo State, triggering renewed concerns over runway safety and operational procedures at Nigerian airports.

The aircraft, bearing registration number 5N-ENR, was operating on the Enugu–Benin–Lagos route when the incident occurred. Preliminary information indicates that the aircraft landed before veering off the runway and coming to a stop inside a nearby bush.

Although no lives were lost and no injuries were immediately reported, the incident has once again drawn attention to the recurring cases of runway excursions in Nigeria and the need for sustained investment in airport infrastructure, safety systems and accident prevention measures.

A source at the Benin Airport, who requested anonymity because he was not authorised to speak publicly, said officials of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) responded swiftly, evacuating all passengers from the aircraft within minutes.

“The aircraft overshot the runway and entered the nearby bush. FAAN officials immediately swung into action and evacuated all the passengers. No casualty was recorded,” the source said.

The exact number of crew members aboard the aircraft could not be independently confirmed as of the time of filing this report.

READ ALSO: Five killed as Indian Air Force cargo plane crashes in Assam

The circumstances that caused the runway excursion remained unclear Thursday evening, with aviation authorities yet to issue an official statement detailing the sequence of events.

Industry observers say investigators are expected to examine several possible factors, including weather conditions at the time of landing, runway surface condition, aircraft performance, braking efficiency, pilot actions and air traffic control communications before determining the cause of the incident.

The occurrence is likely to attract the attention of aviation safety investigators, who routinely probe runway excursions to establish whether mechanical failure, human error, environmental conditions or operational shortcomings contributed to such incidents.

Runway excursions—where aircraft leave the runway during landing or take-off—remain among the most common categories of aviation incidents globally. While many end without fatalities, aviation experts warn they often expose weaknesses in airport safety management, emergency preparedness and operational risk controls.

The rapid response by emergency personnel prevented panic among passengers and ensured the safe evacuation of everyone onboard.

Thursday’s incident also underscores the critical importance of emergency response readiness at Nigerian airports, where timely intervention can significantly reduce the consequences of aviation emergencies.

As of press time, neither Enugu Air nor the relevant aviation regulatory agencies had released an official statement confirming the cause of the incident or outlining the next steps in the investigation.

Passengers and aviation stakeholders are expected to await the findings of the official investigation, which will determine the factors responsible for the runway excursion and recommend measures to prevent similar occurrences in the future.