Minister says all passengers and crew members are safe after aircraft skidded off runway during landing…….
The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has directed aviation authorities to investigate the runway excursion involving an Enugu Air aircraft at the Benin Airport.
Keyamo, in a statement shared on X on Friday, confirmed that the aircraft veered off the runway after completing a successful landing, adding that all passengers and crew members onboard were safe.
“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 (it is called ‘runway excursion’ in aviation terminology). Everyone was safe,” the minister said.
He added that relevant agencies had been instructed to work with the airline to determine the circumstances that led to the incident.
“I have directed all the relevant agencies to work closely with Enugu Air to unravel the cause,” Keyamo said.
The incident occurred on July 23 when an Enugu Air aircraft with registration number 5N-ENR went off the runway while landing at the Benin Airport.
The aircraft was carrying 68 passengers, in addition to members of the crew.
In a statement released after the incident, Enugu Air confirmed that all passengers and crew members safely evacuated the aircraft, with no injuries or fatalities recorded.
The airline said the aircraft had been secured and that aviation regulators and relevant authorities were immediately notified in accordance with standard procedures.
Benin Airport runway closure disrupts flight operations
Following the incident, operations at the Benin Airport were affected after the runway was temporarily closed to allow for necessary safety procedures.
Air Peace announced the suspension of all flights to and from Benin Airport, stating that the disruption was caused by circumstances beyond its control.
The airline apologised to passengers affected by the development and assured them that further updates would be provided once normal operations resumed.
United Nigeria Airlines also cancelled its flights operating through Benin Airport, pending the reopening of the runway.
“We wish to inform our valued passengers and the general public that, due to the closure of the runway by the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) as a result of an excursion, all our flights to and from Benin Airport have been cancelled pending its reopening,” the airline said.
The airline expressed regret over the inconvenience caused and advised affected passengers to contact its customer service team for assistance with rebooking and other arrangements.
The aviation authorities are expected to release further details after completing their investigation into the cause of the runway excursion.
