The Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) has launched a full-scale investigation into the runway excursion involving an Enugu Air aircraft at Benin Airport, Edo State, after the aircraft overran the runway while landing on Thursday afternoon.
The Bureau disclosed that the incident occurred on 23 July 2026 and involved an Embraer E170 aircraft, registration 5N-ENR, operating as Flight 4264 from Lagos to Benin.
According to the NSIB, the aircraft landed on Runway 05 at Benin Airport at about 3:10 p.m. local time (1410 UTC) but failed to stop within the designated landing distance, resulting in a runway excursion after overrunning the end of the runway.
Despite the incident, all 63 passengers and five crew members on board escaped unhurt. The Bureau confirmed that every occupant of the aircraft had been accounted for and that no injuries were reported.
In response to the occurrence, the NSIB immediately activated its emergency response procedures by dispatching its Go Team to the airport. The team arrived at the scene within minutes of receiving notification, reflecting the agency’s readiness to respond promptly to aviation occurrences.
Investigators have since commenced detailed examinations aimed at determining the sequence of events that led to the runway excursion.
Their work includes documenting and preserving evidence at the scene, inspecting the aircraft for any mechanical or structural issues, assessing the condition of the runway, interviewing the flight crew and other relevant personnel, and reviewing operational, meteorological and technical data.
The Bureau also confirmed that the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) and other relevant airport authorities had been notified of the incident, while the aircraft has been secured to facilitate the investigation.
Commenting on the development, the Director General of the NSIB, Captain Alex Badeh Jr., expressed gratitude that the incident did not result in casualties or injuries.
He said the safe evacuation of everyone on board was encouraging, but stressed that runway excursions remain serious aviation occurrences that warrant thorough and independent investigations to establish their causes and identify measures to prevent a recurrence.
Badeh noted that the swift deployment of the NSIB’s Go Team underscored the Bureau’s commitment to timely response and professional accident investigation in accordance with global best practices.
He urged members of the public and industry stakeholders to avoid drawing conclusions or engaging in speculation while investigators carry out their assignment, assuring that the process would be transparent and conducted in line with international standards.
The NSIB said a preliminary report on the occurrence would be released within 30 days as required by aviation regulations. It added that a comprehensive final report containing the Bureau’s findings and safety recommendations would be published at the conclusion of the investigation.
The Bureau reiterated its commitment to promoting aviation safety across Nigeria and called on airlines, airport operators, regulators and other stakeholders to cooperate fully with investigators to ensure a thorough determination of the circumstances surrounding the incident and to strengthen safety within the country’s aviation industry.
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