FAAN Shuts Benin Airport Runway After Enugu Air Crash Incident, Airlines Suspend Flights
Wreckage of the Crashed Enugu Air at Benin Airport
By Reporter
Commercial flight operations at Benin Airport in Edo State have been suspended after the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) temporarily closed the airport’s runway following Thursday’s runway excursion involving an Enugu Air aircraft.
The incident occurred when Enugu Air Flight 4264 veered off the runway while landing, coming to rest in the surrounding muddy area. No fatalities were recorded, while passengers were safely evacuated from the aircraft.
FAAN said the temporary closure is to enable emergency responders and recovery teams to remove the stranded Embraer aircraft, inspect the runway for any damage, and allow investigators from the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) to carry out a thorough on-site investigation.
Following the closure, Air Peace announced the suspension of all scheduled flights to and from Benin Airport until the runway is reopened.
United Nigeria Airlines also suspended its Benin operations in compliance with FAAN’s directive, citing the ongoing recovery and safety assessment at the airport.
The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), FAAN and the NSIB are conducting mandatory safety and infrastructure checks before flight operations can resume.
Both Air Peace and United Nigeria Airlines apologized to passengers affected by the disruption and advised them to contact their customer service channels for rebooking and other travel arrangements.
Meanwhile, the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has directed all relevant aviation agencies to collaborate with the NSIB and the airline involved to determine the cause of the runway excursion and ensure that all necessary safety procedures are followed before the airport is reopened.
It will be recalled that the said Enugu aircraft crashed at the Benin Airport yesterday, leaving scores of passengers injured, and at the time of this report, some are still receiving treatment in hospitals in Benin City.
