NSIB Opens Probe After Enugu Air Plane Skids Off Benin Runway

The Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau has opened an investigation after an Enugu Air aircraft skidded off the runway at Benin Airport on Thursday.

The aircraft, an Embraer E170 with registration 5N-ENR, was operating Flight 4264 from Lagos to Benin when it overran the end of Runway 05 during landing at about 3:10 p.m., according to reports citing the NSIB.

Officials said 63 passengers and five crew members were on board. All were accounted for, and no injuries were reported.

Enugu Air said the aircraft had been secured and that aviation authorities had been notified. The airline also said an assessment of the aircraft and the circumstances of the incident had begun.

The NCAA also confirmed that the aircraft had a runway excursion after landing. Emergency responders moved to the scene, while flight operations at the airport were temporarily disrupted as officials secured the aircraft and began preliminary checks.

Runway excursions are treated as serious aviation safety events because they can point to problems involving weather, runway conditions, aircraft performance, pilot response or airport systems. The NSIB said its investigators had been mobilised to the site.

Sources: Daily Post, Punch, Daily Trust, Premium Times, Channels TV