Incident scene
An Enugu Air Embraer E170 aircraft skidded off the end of Runway 05 and came to rest beyond the pavement at Benin Airport this afternoon, but in a rare relief for Nigeria’s aviation sector, all 68 people on board walked away unhurt.
The aircraft, operating as Flight 4264 with registration 5N-ENR, departed Lagos at mid-day and touched down in Benin at approximately 3:10pm local time.
Instead of decelerating to a stop on the runway, it overran the end, veering into the safety area., in what passengers described a tense few seconds of heavy braking and vibration before the plane stopped.
Within minutes, cabin crew initiated evacuation procedures and everyone disembarked safely through the main doors and emergency slides. No injuries or casualties were reported.
Enugu Air confirmed the incident in a statement issued hours later, saying the aircraft had been secured and relevant aviation authorities notified in line with standard procedures.
“The safety of passengers, crew and flight operations remains our highest priority,” the airline said, adding that an assessment was underway to determine what caused the excursion and that some flight schedules may be temporarily adjusted.
The airline also assured affected passengers they would be contacted directly and provided with necessary assistance.
The Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB), moved fast. By the time news of the runway excursion was spreading on social media, NSIB’s Go Team was already on the ground at Benin Airport.
In a statement signed by the Director of Public Affairs and Family Assistance, Mrs Funke Adebayo-Arowojobe, the Bureau said it had commenced a full investigation into the occurrence. The team’s immediate task is to gather and preserve evidence, interview the flight crew and other personnel, examine the aircraft, assess runway conditions, and review all operational and technical data to establish the circumstances and contributing factors.
The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority and airport authorities have also been notified and are cooperating with the probe.
NSIB Director General, Captain Alex Badeh Jr., said while it was reassuring that no one was hurt, “every runway excursion is a serious occurrence that deserves a thorough and independent investigation.”
He urged the public to refrain from speculation while investigators do their work in accordance with international standards.
According to NSIB, a preliminary report will be issued within 30 days, with a final report and safety recommendations to follow upon completion of the investigation.
Runway excursions remain one of the most common types of aviation incidents globally, often linked to factors ranging from weather and braking performance to runway surface condition, aircraft speed, and crew decision-making.
Benin Airport, a busy domestic hub connecting the South-South to Lagos and Abuja, will now be under close scrutiny as investigators look at whether contributing elements were technical, environmental, or procedural.
For Enugu Air, a relatively young carrier building its footprint in Nigeria’s domestic market, the incident is a major operational test. The airline said it is working with authorities and has prioritized passenger care while the aircraft undergoes inspection.
For passengers on Flight 4264, the outcome was the one that matters most. Sixty-three passengers and five crew members boarded in Lagos expecting a routine 50-minute hop to Benin. They landed safely, even if not on the runway, and were accounted for within minutes.
As NSIB investigators document tire marks, review flight data recorders, and examine weather and braking reports, the broader message from both the airline and regulators is consistent: safety first, answers later.
The Bureau said it urges all stakeholders in the aviation industry to continue prioritizing safety and to cooperate fully with the ongoing investigation.
Until the final report is out, the cause of Thursday’s runway overrun at Benin will remain under investigation, but the story for now ends with 68 people alive and an industry reminded again that safety procedures, when followed, save lives.
