Rita Enemuru, Reporting
BENIN – No fewer than 68 passengers narrowly escaped death on Thursday after an Enugu Air aircraft crash-landed at the Benin Airport in Edo State, veering off the runway into nearby bushland.
The aircraft, with registration number 5N-ENR, was operating a scheduled Enugu–Benin–Lagos commercial flight when the incident occurred shortly after touchdown .
According to a source at the Benin Airport, who spoke on condition of anonymity, the aircraft overshot the runway and came to a stop in vegetation adjacent to the airport .
“The aircraft overshot the runway and entered the nearby bush. FAAN officials immediately swung into action and evacuated all the passengers. No casualty was recorded,” the source disclosed .
Officials of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) responded promptly to the emergency, safely evacuating all passengers and crew members from the aircraft . No injuries or fatalities were reported .
Confirming the incident, the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) verified that the aircraft experienced a runway excursion following landing. Michael Achimugu, the NCAA’s Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, stated: “They had a runway trip. Yes, there was a slide off the runway following landing. Everyone is safe. There were no injuries to the passengers. All passengers emerged. Passengers and crew are safe” .
The airline also issued a statement on its official social media channels, confirming that all passengers and crew had safely disembarked without injuries . Enugu Air noted that the aircraft had been secured and relevant authorities notified in line with established safety procedures.
“The aircraft has been secured and the relevant aviation authorities have been notified in line with established procedures. An assessment of the aircraft and the circumstances surrounding the occurrence is currently underway,” the airline stated.
Preliminary reports suggest heavy rainfall in the Benin area at the time of landing may have been a contributing factor . Some passengers were reportedly taken to hospital for medical checks as a precaution .
The incident comes exactly one year after Enugu Air, established by the Enugu State Government under Governor Peter Mbah, commenced commercial flight operations in July 2025 .
The exact number of crew members on board could not be confirmed at the time of filing this report . Investigations by aviation authorities are expected to commence to determine the precise cause of the runway excursion .
Airport operations were temporarily affected as officials secured the scene and commenced preliminary assessments . The airline has warned of potential temporary adjustments to some flight schedules and assured affected passengers of direct contact and assistance .
