By Maryam Shuaibu
Enugu State-owned carrier, Enugu Air, has confirmed that one of its aircraft experienced a runway excursion after landing at Benin Airport on Thursday, with all passengers and crew safely evacuated.
The airline disclosed the incident in a statement posted on its official X account, assuring the public that no injuries or fatalities were recorded.
“We confirm that all passengers and crew have safely disembarked and there were no injuries or casualties,” the airline said.
According to the airline, the aircraft has been secured while the relevant aviation authorities have been notified in line with established procedures.
It added that an assessment of the aircraft and the circumstances surrounding the occurrence is underway.
As a result of the incident, Enugu Air said some flights may experience temporary schedule adjustments.
“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,” the airline stated.
A runway excursion occurs when an aircraft veers off or overruns the runway during take-off or landing. While such incidents do not always result in injuries, they often trigger safety investigations to determine the cause and prevent future occurrences.
The incident comes barely weeks after Enugu Air commenced commercial operations as the official airline of the Enugu State Government, marking the state’s entry into Nigeria’s commercial aviation sector.
It also follows an earlier runway excursion involving another aircraft at Benin Airport, which led to the temporary closure of the airport’s runway and the suspension of flights by some airlines, including Air Peace, while repairs and safety assessments were carried out.
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The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) and the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) are expected to investigate the latest incident in line with standard aviation safety procedures to determine the circumstances surrounding the runway excursion.