Enugu Air plane leaves runway in Benin, no injuries reported

An Enugu Air plane on Thursday left the runway after landing at Benin Airport. All 63 passengers and five crew members were safely evacuated, and there were no injuries or deaths.

The airline shared the news in a public statement. They said the aircraft was secured and that the relevant aviation authorities were informed according to the right processes.

"Enugu Air wants to tell the public that one of our planes operating into Benin had a runway incursion after landing today," the airline said.

They also confirmed that everyone on board was safe.

"We confirm that all passengers and crew have safely disembarked and there were no injuries or casualties."

Though the airline called it a runway incursion, the event involved the plane leaving the runway after landing. In aviation terms, this is known as a runway excursion.

A video shared on Thursday evening by Omoyele Sowore, the presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), on his official X account showed the Embraer 170 aircraft off the runway in a grassy area. Emergency responders were on the scene while passengers got off the plane. Sowore, who posted the video, expressed hope that no one was hurt and urged the authorities to take aviation safety and regulations seriously.

The airline said it is looking into the plane and the situation surrounding the incident.

They also warned that this could lead to temporary changes to some of its flight schedules.

"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," the airline said.

Assuring passengers, the airline said safety is its top priority.

"The safety of our passengers, crew, and operations remains our highest priority. We appreciate your understanding and will continue to provide updates through our official communication channels," they added.

The Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) is expected to investigate the incident. The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) will also perform its oversight role to find out what happened.

A runway excursion happens when a plane accidentally leaves the runway during take-off or landing. It is one of the most common types of aviation incidents worldwide and can occur for various reasons, including bad weather, poor runway conditions, technical issues, or operational problems.

This latest incident comes as Nigeria's aviation authorities work to improve safety oversight and operational standards at airports across the country.