Enugu Air plane skids off runway at Benin City airport

Enugu Air plane suffers runway incident at Benin Airport 

An Enugu Air aircraft experienced a runway excursion after landing at Benin Airport in Edo State on Thursday, July 23, 2026.

The Embraer regional jet overshot the runway and came to rest in a nearby grassy area. All 68 passengers and crew members on board were safely evacuated, with no injuries or fatalities reported.

In a statement posted on its official X account, Enugu Air confirmed the incident, stressing that it was a runway excursion and not a crash landing, as initially suggested by some social media reports.

"Enugu Air wishes to inform the public that one of our aircraft operating into Benin experienced a runway excursion after landing today," the airline said.

"We confirm that all passengers and crew have safely disembarked and there were no injuries or casualties. The aircraft has been secured, and the relevant aviation authorities have been notified in line with established procedures. An assessment of the aircraft and the circumstances surrounding the occurrence is currently underway."

The airline noted that the incident could lead to temporary changes to some of its flight schedules and assured affected passengers that they would be contacted directly and provided with the necessary assistance.

"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," the statement added.

Enugu Air plane suffers runway incident at Benin Airport 

Videos shared on social media showing the aircraft off the runway sparked speculation that it had crash-landed. However, Enugu Air clarified that the aircraft had merely veered off the runway after landing and that the situation did not result in any casualties.

The aircraft involved is one of the Embraer regional jets recently introduced into the airline's fleet for commercial operations.

The cause of the runway excursion has not yet been determined. Aviation authorities have commenced standard procedures to investigate the incident and establish the circumstances that led to the aircraft leaving the runway.