NSIB issues four safety recommendations after Enugu Air runway overrun

The Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) has raised fresh safety concerns over the runway-end environment, control tower line of sight and availability of meteorological information following the runway overrun involving an Enugu Air aircraft in Benin, Edo State.

The NSIB, in its preliminary report on the July 23, 2026 accident, said it had issued four immediate safety recommendations to the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria and the Nigerian Meteorological Agency.

The recommendations, numbered A-2026-039 to A-2026-042, followed the bureau’s ongoing investigation into the accident involving an Embraer ERJ 170-100LR aircraft with nationality and registration marks 5N-ENR, operated by Enugu Air Limited.

The aircraft was involved in the accident at about 2:55 pm while operating scheduled passenger flight ENU4264 from Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, to Oba Akenzua II Airport, Benin.

According to the preliminary report disclosed in a statement signed by the NSIB Director, Public Affairs and Family Assistance, Funke Arowojobe, on Friday, the aircraft had five crew members and 63 passengers on board when it landed on Runway 05 at Benin Airport.

The aircraft subsequently overran the end of the runway and entered the unpaved area beyond the runway.

It then struck approach-lighting installations and two fixed concrete structures associated with a decommissioned localiser installation.

Despite the accident, the NSIB said all 68 occupants were evacuated safely without injury using the aircraft’s emergency escape slides.

The bureau said the preliminary report contained factual information gathered from several sources, including witness statements, flight recorders, air traffic control communications and a preliminary inspection of the aircraft.

However, it stressed that the investigation had not been concluded, noting that further technical examinations were still underway.

The NSIB said the preliminary report also contained four immediate safety recommendations, A-2026-039 to A-2026-042, addressed to the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria and the Nigerian Meteorological Agency, concerning the runway-end environment, control tower line of sight and the availability of meteorological information.

The bureau also said it had released a preliminary flight path recreation video based on information available at the current stage of the investigation.

It explained that the move was part of its commitment to transparency and the communication of safety information to the public.

“The preliminary report is available for download on the NSIB website for members of the public and the media,” the bureau stated.

“As part of its commitment to public transparency and the communication of safety information, the NSIB has also released a preliminary flight path recreation video based on data available at this stage of the investigation.”

The bureau cautioned against drawing conclusions from the preliminary findings, stressing that the information remained subject to further review and analysis.