NSIB raises fresh safety concerns over Enugu Air Benin runway overrun
August 21, 2026 8:05 pm
The Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau has raised fresh safety concerns over the runway-end environment, control tower line of sight and availability of meteorological information following the runway overrun involving an Enugu Air aircraft in Benin, Edo State.
The NSIB, in its preliminary report on the July 23, 2026 accident, said it had issued four immediate safety recommendations to the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria and the Nigerian Meteorological Agency.
The recommendations, numbered A-2026-039 to A-2026-042, followed the bureau’s ongoing investigation into the accident involving an Embraer ERJ 170-100LR aircraft with nationality and registration marks 5N-ENR, operated by Enugu Air Limited.
The aircraft was involved in the accident at about 2:55 pm while operating scheduled passenger flight ENU4264 from the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, to the Oba Akenzua II Airport, Benin.
According to the preliminary report disclosed in a statement signed by the NSIB Director, Public Affairs and Family Assistance, Funke Arowojobe on Friday, the aircraft had five crew members and 63 passengers on board when it landed on Runway 05 at the Benin airport.
The aircraft subsequently overran the end of the runway and entered the unpaved area beyond the runway.
It then struck approach-lighting installations and two fixed concrete structures associated with a decommissioned localiser installation.
Despite the accident, the NSIB said all 68 occupants were evacuated safely without injury using the aircraft’s emergency escape slide.
The bureau said the preliminary report contained factual information gathered from several sources, including witness statements, flight recorders, air traffic control communications and a preliminary inspection of the aircraft.
However, it stressed that the investigation had not been concluded, noting that further technical examinations were still underway.
The NSIB said, “The preliminary report also contains four immediate safety recommendations, A-2026-039 to A-2026-042, addressed to the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria and the Nigerian Meteorological Agency, concerning the runway-end environment, control tower line of sight and the availability of meteorological information.”
The bureau also said it had released a preliminary flight path recreation video based on information available at the current stage of the investigation.
It explained that the move was part of its commitment to transparency and the communication of safety information to the public.
“The preliminary report is available for download on the NSIB website for members of the public and the media,” the bureau stated.
“As part of its commitment to public transparency and the communication of safety information, the NSIB has also released a preliminary flight path recreation video based on data available at this stage of the investigation.”
The bureau cautioned against concluding the preliminary findings, stressing that the information remained subject to further review and analysis.
“The Bureau notes that the information contained in the preliminary report is subject to further review and analysis, and its content may still change,” it stated.
According to the NSIB, the final report would contain the bureau’s conclusions and any additional safety recommendations that might emerge from the completed investigation.
“The final report will present the Bureau’s conclusions and any further safety recommendations arising from the completed investigation,” the statement added.
The bureau also clarified that its investigation was not intended to determine who was responsible for the accident or impose liability.
“In accordance with Annex 13 to the Convention on International Civil Aviation, the sole objective of the investigation is the prevention of accidents and incidents,” it said.
“It is not the purpose of the investigation to apportion blame or liability.”
The accident occurred barely after the aircraft completed its scheduled flight from Lagos to Benin, with all passengers and crew members ultimately escaping injury.
According to the report, the aircraft departed the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, at about 2:19 pm for Benin on a scheduled passenger flight and initially completed its take-off, climb, cruise and descent phases normally.
The crew had been cleared for an Instrument Landing System approach to Runway 23 but requested and obtained approval to conduct an RNAV approach to Runway 05.
The report said the crew expressed concern about rain near the airport during the approach, while the tower later advised that the approach path to Runway 23 appeared better.
Despite the advisory, the crew continued with the RNAV approach to Runway 05.
At about 2:48 pm, the tower informed the crew that visibility was about 1,500 metres in moderate rain. The tower subsequently cleared the aircraft to land on Runway 05 and cautioned the crew that the runway surface was wet.
Princess Etuk is a journalist at Punch Newspapers with over five years of experience covering national development and the economy. She focuses on public policy, infrastructure, agriculture, and related sectors, producing insightful features and exclusive reports. Princess’s work reflects a strong commitment to accountability journalism, sectoral development reporting, and informed public dialogue.
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