Enugu Air Aircraft Veers Off Runway at Benin Airport, Passengers Escape Unhurt

An Enugu Air aircraft veered off the runway shortly after landing at Benin Airport on Thursday, but all passengers and crew members escaped unhurt.

The incident, known in aviation as a runway excursion, involved one of the Enugu State-owned airline’s Embraer regional jets.

Confirming the development in a statement posted on its official X account, Enugu Air said the aircraft safely came to a stop after leaving the runway and that emergency procedures were immediately activated.

According to the airline, all passengers and crew were safely evacuated from the aircraft, with no injuries or fatalities recorded.

“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 said.

Enugu Air noted that the incident may temporarily affect some of its flight operations, adding that passengers whose travel plans are impacted will be contacted directly and assisted accordingly.

The airline reassured the public that safety remains its top priority and pledged to provide further updates through its official communication channels as investigations progress.

Videos shared on social media shortly after the incident showed the aircraft resting off the runway, triggering speculation that it had crash-landed. However, Enugu Air dismissed those claims, clarifying that the occurrence was a runway excursion rather than a crash landing.

The aircraft involved is one of the Embraer regional jets recently introduced into the airline’s fleet as part of its commercial operations.

The exact cause of the runway excursion has not yet been established. Aviation authorities are expected to carry out a full investigation to determine the circumstances that led to the incident.