The aircraft, operating the Enugu-Benin-Lagos route, reportedly overshot the runway at Benin Airport, with no casualties recorded
No fewer than 68 passengers narrowly escaped a potentially tragic outcome on Thursday after an Enugu Air aircraft crash-landed at Benin Airport in Edo State, overshot the runway and veered into a nearby bush.
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The Enugu Air crash-landing involved an aircraft with registration number 5N-ENR, which was operating on the Enugu-Benin-Lagos route when the incident occurred.
A source at Benin Airport, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the aircraft overshot the runway after landing before veering into the bush.
The source said officials of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) responded swiftly, evacuating all passengers from the aircraft.
“The aircraft overshot the runway and entered the nearby bush. FAAN officials immediately swung into action and evacuated all the passengers. No casualty was recorded,” the source said.
The number of crew members on board the aircraft could not be independently confirmed as of the time of filing this report.
The incident triggered an emergency response at the airport as officials worked to ensure the safety of everyone on board.
While the 68 passengers were reportedly evacuated safely, the circumstances surrounding the aircraft’s runway excursion remained unclear.
Authorities had yet to issue an official statement explaining what caused the incident or provide further details about the condition of the aircraft.
Investigations are expected to commence to establish the circumstances that led to the aircraft overshooting the runway and entering the surrounding bush.
The incident comes amid renewed attention to aviation safety and emergency preparedness at Nigerian airports, where rapid intervention by airport authorities remains critical in limiting the consequences of aircraft incidents.
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For the passengers aboard the Enugu Air flight, the swift evacuation brought an anxious journey to a safe conclusion, with no casualties reported despite the potentially serious nature of the incident.
Victory Emmanuel is a journalist and contributor to Freelanews.com, covering news, business, and public affairs.
