Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has directed the relevant aviation agencies to investigate the runway excursion involving an Enugu Air aircraft at Benin Airport, Edo State, to determine the cause of the incident.
Gatekeepers News reports that the incident occurred on Thursday when an Enugu Air aircraft, registered as 5N-ENR and operating from Lagos to Benin, veered off the runway after landing. Keyamo clarified that the aircraft landed safely before skidding off the runway, describing the occurrence as a “runway excursion” in aviation terminology. He also confirmed that all passengers and crew members were unharmed.
The minister said he had instructed aviation agencies to work closely with Enugu Air to establish the circumstances surrounding the incident. The airline also confirmed that the aircraft had been secured and that the appropriate authorities were notified in line with standard aviation procedures.
The runway excursion forced the temporary closure of Benin Airport’s runway, disrupting flight operations. Air Peace and United Nigeria Airlines subsequently suspended flights to and from the airport until the runway is reopened, while advising affected passengers to contact their customer service channels for rebooking and further assistance.
