Keyamo orders investigation into Enugu Air runway excursion at Benin Airport

Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has directed relevant aviation agencies to investigate the runway excursion involving an Enugu Air aircraft at the Benin Airport, Edo State, to determine the cause of the incident.

The minister disclosed this in a post on his official X (formerly Twitter) account on Friday, assuring the public that all passengers and crew members aboard the aircraft were safe.

According to Keyamo, the aircraft successfully landed before skidding off the runway in what is known in aviation as a runway excursion.

“I have been duly informed that the incident with Enugu Air yesterday in Benin is that the aircraft skidded off the runway after landing successfully (it is called ‘runway excursion’ in aviation terminology). Everyone was safe,” the minister stated.

He added that he had directed the relevant aviation agencies to collaborate with Enugu Air in carrying out a comprehensive investigation into the incident.

“I have directed all the relevant agencies to work closely with Enugu Air to unravel the cause,” he said.

The incident occurred on Thursday, July 23, when an Enugu Air aircraft, with registration number 5N-ENR, veered off the runway after landing at the Benin Airport.

The aircraft was carrying 68 passengers, excluding members of the flight crew.

In a statement issued shortly after the incident, Enugu Air confirmed that all passengers and crew members safely evacuated the aircraft without injuries or fatalities.

The airline also stated that the aircraft had been secured while the appropriate aviation authorities were notified in accordance with established safety and regulatory procedures.

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The runway excursion forced the temporary closure of the airport’s runway, disrupting flight operations into and out of Benin.

Following the development, Air Peace announced the suspension of all flights to and from the Benin Airport, attributing the decision to the runway closure.

The airline described the disruption as beyond its control and apologised to affected passengers for the inconvenience caused.

Similarly, United Nigeria Airlines suspended all flight operations to and from Benin pending the reopening of the airport’s runway.

In a public notice, the airline said the closure of the runway by the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) following the runway excursion made it impossible to continue scheduled operations.

The carrier expressed regret over the disruption and advised affected passengers to contact its customer service channels for rebooking, refunds and other travel assistance.

The incident has renewed concerns over operational safety and emergency response procedures at Nigerian airports, with industry stakeholders expected to await the outcome of the investigation ordered by the Minister of Aviation.

The findings of the investigation are expected to determine the factors responsible for the runway excursion and recommend measures to prevent similar incidents in the future while ensuring continued confidence in Nigeria’s aviation sector.