Panic gripped air travelers on Thursday afternoon when a regional jet operated by Enugu Air suffered a runway excursion during landing at the Benin Airport.
All 68 passengers on board, alongside the flight crew, safely escaped without injury.
The aircraft, bearing registration number 5N-ENR, was operating a commercial flight along the Enugu–Benin–Lagos route.
Upon touching down at Benin Airport, the plane overshot the main runway and veered into an adjacent grassy area. Emergency teams and officials from the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) responded immediately, securing the scene and safely evacuating all passengers and crew to the terminal without incident.
Enugu Air was officially commissioned by the Governor of Enugu State, Dr. Peter Mbah, on Monday, July 7, 2025, at the Akanu Ibiam International Airport in Enugu. Established as a state-backed commercial carrier, the airline launched operations with Embraer regional jets, initially covering the core Enugu–Abuja–Lagos commercial corridor before expanding to regional destinations, including Benin, Port Harcourt, Owerri, and Kano.
Governor Mbah launched the airline as a key strategic enabler to drive regional business, boost tourism, and position Enugu as an aviation and logistics hub in the region.
