Enugu Air Embraer ERJ170 runway excursion in Benin

On Thursday, 23 July, an Enugu Air Embraer E170 was involved in a runway excursion at Benin City Airport, Nigeria. The aircraft was operating Flight 4264 with registration 5N-ENR from Lagos to Benin when it overran the end of Runway 05 upon landing at about 3:10 pm local time. All 63 passengers and five crew members evacuated the aircraft safely with no injuries.

What we know so far

Benin City Airport has a single runway designated 05/23, measuring 2,400 metres by 45 metres, sitting in the middle of the city with little room beyond either threshold. Heavy rain was falling as the aircraft arrived, and the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) director of public affairs and consumer protection, Michael Achimugu, said the aircraft landed safely before skidding off the runway because of adverse weather conditions. Video footage shared shortly afterwards shows the jet standing on the ground in the rain, its fuselage streaked with mud.

The aircraft was substantially damaged, with images showing the E170 resting on the underside of its fuselage on rough ground and part of the landing gear broken away. That level of damage is what separates an accident from an incident under ICAO Annex 13. The runway closed while responders worked the site, disrupting operations at the airport. Aviation minister Festus Keyamo said on Friday that he had directed all relevant agencies to work with Enugu Air to establish the cause.

The investigation is already underway

The Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) has started an investigation into the causes of the accident. The bureau said its Go Team was deployed to the accident site within minutes of being notified and had begun gathering and preserving evidence. Investigators are interviewing the flight crew, examining the aircraft, assessing runway conditions and reviewing operational and technical records. The NCAA and airport authorities have been notified, and the aircraft has been secured.

Director-General of the NSIB, Capt. Alex Badeh Jr., commented on the accident and said, "We are relieved that all passengers and crew members are safe and that no injuries were reported. While this is reassuring, every runway excursion is a serious occurrence that deserves a thorough and independent investigation."

In line with regulatory standards and requirements, the bureau will publish a preliminary report within 30 days. The final investigation report, including any safety recommendations, will be released after the full investigation has been completed. ICAO's Annex 13 stipulates that the final report must be released as soon as possible, and if it isn't within 12 months, the investigating state must release an interim statement on each anniversary.

What investigators still need to establish

Investigators have yet to confirm the touchdown point, the approach speed, the runway surface condition at the time or whether the crew received a braking action report. Those four factors decide most wet-runway overruns. The preliminary report should begin answering them. Flightradar24 coverage is unavailable for this flight, meaning AirlineRatings.com is unable to conduct its own analysis of the accident.

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Who is Enugu Air?

Enugu Air is a small state-owned carrier in Nigeria, operating with a fleet of six Embraer aircraft. It is based at Akanu Ibiam International Airport. It operates to a handful of domestic destinations including Lagos, Abuja, Enugu, Port Harcourt, Owerri, Benin and Warri.

The airline commenced operations in July 2025 as a virtual carrier, flying under the air operator certificate of Nigerian operator XEJet while it obtained certification. The NCAA issued Enugu Air its own AOC in March 2026. The carrier has been flying on its own certificate for around four months and is aiming to grow to 20 aircraft by the end of this year.

Runway excursions remain the most common type of accident in commercial aviation worldwide. Luckily, nobody was harmed during this accident, and that is what matters most. The NSIB will now work to determine the cause and issue its report.