Captain Tolu Ita, the Chief Executive Officer of Enugu Air, has addressed recent reports regarding a runway excursion at Benin Airport. She explicitly stated that the event was not a crash or an emergency landing. The airline head confirmed that all passengers and crew members are safe with no reported injuries or fatalities.
During a video message posted on Friday, Ita explained that the aircraft was completing a scheduled flight from Lagos to Benin when it hydroplaned on the runway. This loss of traction caused the plane to veer off the path during its landing roll. The airline is currently cooperating with aviation authorities to conduct a thorough investigation into the matter.
The incident involved an Enugu Air Embraer E170 operating Flight 4264, which went past the end of Runway 05 on Thursday. The Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau is leading the inquiry and has verified that all 68 people on board, consisting of 63 passengers and five crew, were unharmed. A preliminary report is expected to be released within 30 days as required by safety protocols.
Captain Ita emphasized that passenger safety remains the primary focus of the airline. She expressed gratitude to the ground teams, emergency responders, and the public for their support and reiterated that the company remains dedicated to maintaining rigorous safety standards.
