Panic gripped passengers and airport officials on Thursday after an Enugu Air aircraft carrying 63 passengers and five crew members veered off the runway and ran into the surrounding bush after landing at the Benin Airport in Edo State, prompting a safety investigation and forcing Air Peace to suspend all flights to and from the airport.

The Embraer E170 aircraft, operating as Flight 4264 from Lagos to Benin with registration 5N-ENR, overran the end of Runway 05 at about 3:10 p.m. local time. Emergency responders, however, confirmed that all passengers and crew members were safely evacuated without injuries.

In a statement issued shortly after the incident, Enugu Air assured the public that all occupants had safely disembarked. The airline said, “Enugu Air wishes to inform the public that one of our aircraft operating into Benin experienced a runway excursion after landing today.

“We confirm that all passengers and crew have safely disembarked and there were no injuries or casualties. The aircraft has been secured, and the relevant aviation authorities have been notified in line with established procedures.”

“As a result, there may be temporary adjustments to some flight schedules. Passengers affected by any changes will be contacted directly and provided with the necessary assistance.”

One of the passengers, Benjamin Mordi, recounted the tense moments onboard, saying the aircraft appeared to touch down unusually late before continuing towards the end of the runway.

“In all, we thank God,” he repeatedly said during a telephone conversation with The PUNCH.

He added, “I can’t really explain everything, but what we noticed was that the aircraft didn’t touch the ground where it was supposed to land. It landed almost at the end of the runway, and the plane just kept going until God helped us to stop where we eventually stopped.

“We all disembarked safely, and we thank God. It could have been a different story today, but God spared every one of us.”

Following the incident, the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau deployed its Go Team to the airport within minutes to commence a full investigation.

According to the bureau, investigators immediately began preserving evidence, interviewing the flight crew and other relevant personnel, examining the aircraft, assessing runway conditions and reviewing operational and technical records to determine the circumstances surrounding the occurrence.

The bureau also confirmed that the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority and other relevant airport authorities had been notified, while the aircraft had been secured.

Commenting on the incident, the Director-General of the NSIB, Capt. Alex Badeh Jr., 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.

“Our Go Team was on the ground within minutes of notification, and that speed of response reflects the readiness and professionalism of our investigators. We urge the public to refrain from speculation as our investigators carry out their work in accordance with international standards.”

The NSIB said a preliminary report would be released within 30 days in line with regulatory requirements, while the final investigation report, including safety recommendations, would be published after the completion of the investigation.

It also urged all stakeholders in the aviation industry to continue prioritising safety and cooperate fully with the ongoing investigation. The runway excursion also disrupted flight operations at the airport, forcing Air Peace to suspend all services to and from Benin.

In a statement, the airline said the suspension became necessary following the temporary closure of the runway and described the disruption as beyond its control.

The airline stated, “Air Peace wishes to inform its valued customers and the general public that all flights to and from Benin Airport have been temporarily suspended today following the closure of the airport’s runway due to a runway incursion.

“The temporary suspension and cancellation of affected flights are necessitated by circumstances beyond the airline’s control. We sincerely regret the inconvenience this disruption may cause and appeal to all affected passengers for their patience and understanding as the relevant airport authorities work to restore normal operations.”