Keyamo Directs Probe into Enugu Air Runway Incident at Benin Airport

Festus Keyamo, the minister of aviation and aerospace development, has directed relevant aviation agencies to investigate the runway excursion incident involving an Enugu Air aircraft at the Benin Airport.

In a post on X on Friday, the minister said the aircraft skidded off the runway after landing successfully, noting that all passengers and crew members were safe.

“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 said.

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

The incident occurred on July 23, when an Enugu Air plane, with registration number 5N-ENR, veered off the runway while landing at the Benin airport.

The aircraft was carrying no fewer than 68 passengers, excluding crew members.

In a statement issued after the incident, Enugu Air said all passengers and crew safely disembarked from the aircraft, with no injuries or fatalities recorded.

The airline added that the aircraft had been secured and that the relevant aviation authorities were notified in line with established procedures.

AIRLINES SUSPEND OPERATIONS TO BENIN 

The runway excursion led to the closure of the airport’s runway, disrupting flight operations to Benin.

Following the development, Air Peace suspended all flights to and from Benin airport, citing the runway closure.

The airline said the disruption was beyond its control and apologised to affected passengers for the inconvenience.

United Nigeria Airlines also announced the cancellation of all its flights to and from Benin pending the reopening of the runway.

“We wish to inform our valued passengers and the general public that, due to the closure of the runway by the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) as a result of an excursion, all our flights to and from Benin Airport have been cancelled pending its reopening,” the airline said.

“We sincerely regret any inconvenience this may have caused.”

United Nigeria advised affected passengers to contact its customer service for rebooking and other assistance.