An Enugu Air aircraft suffered a runway excursion at the Benin Airport in Edo State on Thursday, forcing the temporary closure of the airport’s runway and disrupting flight operations across the facility.

The incident occurred at about 3:10 p.m. local time when the aircraft, operating as Flight 4264 with registration 5N-ENR, overran the end of Runway 05 while landing after arriving from Lagos. There were 63 passengers and five crew members on board, and all occupants disembarked safely with no injuries or fatalities recorded.

Videos that circulated on social media shortly afterward showed the aircraft resting off the runway in muddy, rain-soaked ground, sparking initial speculation that it had crash-landed. Enugu Air, however, clarified that the occurrence was a runway excursion rather than a crash, noting that the aircraft had been secured and that relevant aviation authorities had been notified in line with established procedures.

The airline said the incident could lead to temporary adjustments to some of its flight schedules and assured that affected passengers would be contacted directly and assisted accordingly. Officials of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority attributed the excursion to adverse weather conditions, noting that heavy rain was falling at the time the aircraft landed.

The closure of the runway by the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria triggered a chain of disruptions for airlines operating into Benin. Air Peace announced the suspension of all its flights to and from the airport, describing the development as beyond its control and apologising for the inconvenience caused to passengers. United Nigeria Airlines also cancelled its flights to and from Benin pending the reopening of the runway, citing the same reason.

The Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau confirmed it had launched an investigation into the incident, with its Director-General, Captain Alex Badeh Jr., describing every runway excursion as a serious occurrence that deserves thorough scrutiny. He said the bureau’s response team was on the ground within minutes of notification and urged the public to avoid speculation while investigators carried out their work in line with international standards.

A preliminary report is expected within 30 days, with a final report containing safety recommendations to follow once the investigation is completed.

Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has also directed relevant aviation agencies to work closely with Enugu Air to unravel the circumstances surrounding the incident. The development adds to ongoing efforts by Nigeria’s aviation authorities to strengthen safety oversight and improve operational standards across the country’s airports.

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