NIGERIA | NATIONAL

The Federal Government has ordered an investigation into the runway excursion involving an Enugu Air aircraft at the Benin Airport, after the plane veered off the runway following a successful landing amid heavy rainfall.

Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, gave the directive on Friday, July 24, 2026, while confirming that all passengers and crew members on board the aircraft were safe.

In a post on X, Keyamo said he had been briefed on the incident, which occurred in Benin on Thursday.

“I have been duly informed that the incident with Enugu Air yesterday in Benin is that the aircraft skidded off the runway after landing successfully (it is called ‘runway excursion’ in aviation terminology),” the Minister said.

“Everyone was safe. I have directed all the relevant agencies to work closely with Enugu Air to unravel the cause.”

The Minister’s directive came a day after the aircraft, which had arrived from Enugu, skidded off the runway after landing at Benin Airport amid torrential rainfall.

No injuries or deaths were recorded in the incident.

The development initially sparked fears of a possible plane crash, but the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority clarified that the aircraft had landed safely before leaving the runway due to the adverse weather conditions.

Michael Achimugu, Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection at the NCAA, dismissed reports that the aircraft had crashed.

He explained that the incident was a runway excursion caused by the heavy rainfall.

“The aircraft landed safely but skidded off the runway due to the adverse weather conditions,” Achimugu said.

All passengers and crew members were confirmed safe.

A video going viral showed passengers disembarking from the aircraft after it skidded into a swampy area beside the runway.

The full circumstances surrounding the incident were not immediately clear.

In aviation, a runway excursion refers to an incident in which an aircraft veers off or overruns the runway during takeoff or landing.

Such incidents can be caused by factors including adverse weather, mechanical problems, pilot error or poor runway conditions.

The investigation ordered by Keyamo is expected to determine the circumstances surrounding the incident and establish the factors that caused the aircraft to leave the runway.