The Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau has launched an investigation into a runway excursion involving an Enugu Air Embraer E170 aircraft — bearing registration 5N-ENR — after the aircraft suffered a runway excursion following landing at Benin Airport in Edo State. No injuries were reported among the passengers and crew on board the aircraft.
A runway excursion occurs when an aircraft departs the paved runway surface during landing or takeoff — either by running off the end of the runway or veering off the side. Such incidents are classified as serious incidents under ICAO definitions and trigger mandatory safety investigation by the relevant national accident investigation authority, regardless of whether any injuries or fatalities occur.
Enugu Air and Its Fleet
Enugu Air is one of Nigeria's newest carriers, having launched domestic operations with a fleet of Embraer E170 regional jets. The E170 is a modern twin-turbofan regional jet capable of carrying up to 80 passengers in a typical configuration, and is the same aircraft type that Air Peace has added to its fleet in 2026 as part of its strategic expansion into thinner domestic and African regional routes.
The runway excursion at Benin Airport adds to the operational challenges facing Nigeria's newer airline entrants — a group that includes not only Enugu Air but also Rocket Aviation, which received its Air Operator Certificate in June 2026. Both carriers entered the Nigerian domestic market during a period of severe financial stress caused by the Jet A1 price surge, creating operational pressures that affect crew rostering, aircraft maintenance schedules, and the financial buffers available to absorb unexpected incidents.
The NSIB Investigation
The NSIB's investigation will examine the circumstances of the runway excursion — including weather conditions at the time of landing, aircraft technical condition, crew actions and decision-making, runway surface state, and the adequacy of ground infrastructure at Benin Airport. The investigation is conducted independently of any enforcement action by the NCAA, in accordance with the principle established under ICAO Annex 13 that safety investigations exist to identify causal factors and make safety recommendations, not to apportion blame or liability. The NSIB will publish a final report with its findings and any safety recommendations arising from the investigation once completed.
