Enugu Governor Assures High Safety Standards for Enugu Air After Runway Incident

Enugu State Governor Dr. Peter Mbah has responded to a runway excursion involving Enugu Air Flight 4264, stating that the airline operates under the highest safety standards. The incident occurred on Thursday, July 23, 2026, when the Embraer E170 aircraft, operating from Lagos to Benin, skidded off the runway at Benin Airport.

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The Enugu State Government is aware of the incident of a runway excursion affecting Enugu Air, Embraer E170, Flight 4264, operating from into Benin Airport from Lagos on Thursday, July 23, 2026.

Governor Mbah expressed sympathy for the 63 passengers and five crew members aboard the aircraft, acknowledging their traumatic experience. He commended aviation authorities for promptly initiating an investigation into the incident. Mbah emphasized that for Enugu Air, safety is paramount and non-negotiable, asserting that the airline's operations are guided by a corporate culture prioritizing safety above profit and schedules.

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The government empathises with the 63 passengers and five crew members on board the aircraft over the traumatic experience and is thankful to God that no life was lost and no injuries have so far been reported.

The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has also ordered a thorough investigation into the serious incident. The Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) is reportedly conducting the probe to determine the exact circumstances and contributing factors that led to the excursion.

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While the outcome of the investigation is awaited, the government assures the public that the operations of Enugu Air are guided by the highest safety standards.

Despite the incident, Governor Mbah assured the public that Enugu Air's quality assurance and control systems stipulate a safety threshold significantly higher than industry benchmarks. He noted that the airline's strong safety record has fostered growing confidence and patronage from passengers and industry stakeholders. Mbah thanked Nigerians for their outpouring of solidarity and for sharing positive experiences with Enugu Air since its launch a year ago, highlighting the significance of this support during this time.

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We wish to express our profound gratitude to Nigerians for the outpouring of solidarity since the unfortunate incident. Quite uncommonly, Nigerians have continued to share their positive experiences with Enugu Air since it was launched a year ago. This matters so much to us as a government at this time.