Benin Airport remains closed following a runway excursion involving an Enugu Air Embraer E170 on July 23, 2026. While all 63 passengers and 5 crew members were unharmed, the closure has disrupted regional travel, forcing Air Peace and United Nigeria Airlines to cancel flights. The Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau is currently examining weather conditions and aircraft performance, with a full report expected in 30 days.
- Enugu Air Flight 4264 skidded off the runway during a heavy rain landing in Benin City.
- Aviation authorities closed Benin Airport for recovery, forcing major airlines to suspend all scheduled flights.
- The Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau launched an official inquiry with a preliminary report due within thirty days.
An Enugu Air runway excursion closed Benin Airport Thursday and forced Air Peace and United Nigeria Airlines to suspend flights to and from the city. Hundreds of passengers faced disruption after the aircraft left the runway during a landing from Lagos.
The incident involved an Embraer E170, registered as 5N-ENR and operating Flight 4264. It overran Runway 05 at about 3:10 p.m. local time on July 23, 2026.
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All 63 passengers and five crew members were safe. No injuries were reported.
The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria closed the runway for recovery operations and safety assessments. It remained closed on July 24, keeping scheduled flights suspended.
The Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau began an investigation and said it would issue a preliminary report within 30 days.
Two carriers halted Benin service as the runway stayed closed
The first suspension came from Air Peace on July 23. The airline said the decision covered “all flights to and from Benin Airport” because of “circumstances beyond the airline’s control.”
United Nigeria Airlines followed on July 24. Its management said the carrier canceled every flight to and from the city until the runway reopened.
“Due to the closure of the runway by the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) as a result of an excursion, all our flights to and from Benin Airport have been cancelled pending its reopening.”
The closure affected scheduled regional operations. Enugu Air also warned passengers that some schedules could require “temporary adjustments” and said affected travelers would be contacted directly.
The runway must return to service before normal flight operations can resume. Recovery work and safety checks were continuing on July 24.
Officials describe a runway excursion, not a crash
Nigeria’s aviation authorities said the aircraft landed before leaving the paved surface. The account places the event during a period of heavy rainfall in Benin City.
Festus Keyamo, the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, said he had been informed that the aircraft skidded off the runway after landing successfully.
“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. Everyone was safe.”
Michael Achimugu, Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection at the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, said the aircraft “skidded off the runway because of adverse weather conditions” involving heavy rainfall at arrival.
The investigation will examine the aircraft and the circumstances surrounding the excursion. Enugu Air management said the aircraft had been secured and that the relevant aviation authorities had been notified under established procedures.
“The aircraft has been secured and the relevant aviation authorities have been notified in line with established procedures. An assessment of the aircraft and the circumstances surrounding the occurrence is currently underway.”
The aircraft’s flight details were as follows:
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Incident date | July 23, 2026 |
| Approximate time | 3:10 p.m. local time |
| Route | Lagos to Benin |
| Flight | 4264 |
| Registration | 5N-ENR |
| People aboard | 63 passengers and five crew members |
| Reported injuries | None |
Investigators and airport officials are handling the recovery
The Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau opened the inquiry after the runway excursion. Its preliminary report is due within 30 days.
Mrs. Olubunmi Kuku, Managing Director of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, is overseeing recovery efforts at the airport. The authority closed the runway while officials assessed its condition and the aircraft’s removal.
The airport’s return to normal service depends on the authorities restoring the runway to operational use. Until then, both suspended carriers remain unable to operate their Benin schedules.
The incident has also drawn calls for scrutiny from political and civic figures. Peter Obi, identified as an NDC presidential candidate, called for a “comprehensive investigation” and expressed “profound relief” that no lives were lost.
Omoyele Sowore, an activist and publisher, said “authorities must treat aviation safety and regulatory compliance with the utmost seriousness.”
Enugu Air faces scrutiny after the first disruption to its service
The carrier said its aircraft had been secured and that an assessment was underway. Its statement did not announce a broader grounding, but it warned of temporary schedule changes affecting some flights.
The runway closure, rather than a systemwide suspension by the airlines, drove the cancellations at the Benin airport. Passengers affected by the changes will receive direct contact from Enugu Air, while the other carriers’ flights remain pending the runway’s reopening.
The NSIB’s investigation now has a defined initial deadline. Its preliminary report is expected within 30 days, while the airport remains closed for recovery and safety assessments.
