Investigation Launched into Enugu Air Runway Incident

The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has asked all relevant agencies to work with Enugu Air to find out what caused the runway incident at Benin Airport on Thursday.

Keyamo shared this information in a post on his official X account on Friday. He said he had been updated about the incident.

"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," the minister wrote. He explained that this situation is called a "runway excursion" in aviation terms.

He confirmed that everyone on the aircraft was safe. "Everyone was safe," he said.

The minister mentioned that he told all relevant aviation agencies to closely work with the airline to find out what caused the incident.

This directive came after an Enugu Air Embraer E170, which was operating Flight 4264 from Lagos, went off the runway after landing at Benin Airport.

PREMIUM TIMES reported that the airline confirmed all 63 passengers and five crew members got off the aircraft safely, with no injuries or deaths reported.

The airline stated that the aircraft had been secured and that the relevant aviation authorities were informed as per standard procedures. They also noted that an assessment of the aircraft was ongoing and warned that this incident might lead to temporary changes in some of their scheduled flights.

Enugu Air, owned by the Enugu State Government, started commercial operations in July 2025 with three Embraer aircraft. It became Nigeria’s second state-owned commercial airline after Ibom Air, which was launched by the Akwa Ibom State Government in 2019.

After the incident, the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) sent its 'Go Team' to Benin Airport to start an investigation.

The bureau stated that investigators are collecting evidence, interviewing the flight crew and other important personnel, checking the aircraft, looking at runway conditions, and reviewing operational and technical records to find out what happened during the runway excursion.

The Director-General of the NSIB, Alex Badeh Jr., said that even though no injuries were reported, every runway excursion is a serious matter that needs a complete and independent investigation.

"We are relieved that all passengers and crew members are safe and that no injuries were reported. While this is reassuring, every runway excursion is a serious occurrence that deserves a thorough and independent investigation," Mr Badeh said.

He also mentioned that the bureau’s investigators reached the scene a few minutes after getting the alert.

"Our Go Team was on the ground within minutes of notification, and that quick response shows the readiness and professionalism of our investigators. We urge the public to avoid speculation as our investigators do their work following international standards," he said.

The NSIB said it would provide a preliminary report within 30 days as required, while a final report with findings and safety recommendations would be released after the investigation is finished.

The runway incident has also affected flight operations at Benin Airport.