An Enugu Airlines plane crash landing incident at Benin Airport, Edo State, ended without any loss of life after an aircraft carrying 68 passengers veered off the runway on Thursday.
The aircraft, bearing registration number 5N-ENR, was operating its scheduled Enugu–Benin–Lagos route when the incident occurred shortly after landing at the airport.
In addition to the 68 passengers, the aircraft had an undisclosed number of crew members on board.
Airport officials immediately activated emergency procedures after the aircraft left the runway and came to a stop in a nearby bushy area.
Aircraft Leaves Runway After Landing
According to an airport source familiar with the development, the aircraft was unable to remain on the runway during landing before veering into vegetation close to the airport.
The source, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorised to speak publicly, said emergency responders moved quickly to secure the area and assist everyone on board.
Officials of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) arrived at the scene shortly after the incident and successfully evacuated all passengers from the aircraft.
Despite the frightening experience, there were no reported fatalities or injuries among passengers or crew members.
The exact number of crew members on board has not yet been made public by the airline or aviation authorities.
Investigation Into the Incident Begins
Authorities have not yet confirmed what caused the runway excursion, and an official investigation is expected to determine the circumstances surrounding the incident.
Aviation experts will likely examine several factors, including weather conditions, runway status, aircraft systems, and operational procedures before reaching any conclusions.
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The incident has once again drawn attention to aviation safety and emergency response procedures in Nigeria’s aviation sector.
The swift response by airport emergency teams and FAAN officials ensured that all passengers were evacuated safely without injuries.
More information is expected to be released as investigators complete their preliminary assessment and aviation authorities provide updates on the Enugu Airlines plane crash landing incident.
