Enugu Air CEO clarifies Benin Airport incident as runway excursion, not crash

Enugu Air's Chief Executive Officer, Captain Tolu Ita, has clarified that a recent incident at Benin Airport involved a runway excursion, not a crash or emergency landing. All passengers and crew members aboard the flight from Lagos to Benin were confirmed safe, with no injuries or fatalities recorded.

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We are deeply grateful that all passengers and crew members are safe. Most importantly, there were no injuries and no casualties.

Ita explained that the Embraer E170 aircraft experienced a runway excursion after hydroplaning on the runway during the landing roll. She stressed that while it was a serious incident, it did not involve a crash. The airline is cooperating fully with aviation authorities, including the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau, which has begun its own investigation into the event.

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Following a scheduled flight from Lagos to Benin, the aircraft landed and, due to hydroplaning on the runway, experienced a runway excursion during the landing roll.

The airline emphasized that passenger safety and welfare remain its highest priorities. "Safety is, and will always remain, the foundation of who we are as an airline," Ita stated. The incident involved 63 passengers and five crew members. Enugu Air thanked passengers, crew, airport personnel, and emergency responders for their support and assured the public of its commitment to maintaining trust and safety.

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This was not a crash nor was it an emergency landing, but it was a serious incident.