An Enugu Air aircraft crash-landed at Benin Airport on Thursday, causing panic among passengers.
In one of the videos from the scene circulating on social media, a passenger filming the aftermath of the incident could be heard breathing heavily and thanking God for sparing his life.
It was gathered that the aircraft veered off the runway after landing. However, the cause of the incident was still unclear as of the time of filing this report.
Confirming the incident in a statement, Enugu Air said all passengers and crew members safely disembarked and that there were no injuries or fatalities.
“Enugu Air wishes to inform the public that one of our aircraft operating into Benin experienced a runway excursion after landing today.
“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 statement read.
The airline added that the incident could result in temporary adjustments to some flight schedules.
“As a result, there may be temporary adjustments to some flight schedules. Passengers affected by any changes will 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.”
Meanwhile, the presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), Omoyele Sowore, called on aviation authorities to treat aviation safety and regulatory compliance with the utmost seriousness.
Reacting to the incident, Sowore said, “My heart goes out to everyone involved in the incident involving the EnuguAirlines aircraft at Benin Airport. I hope no one was injured and that all passengers and crew are safe.
“The authorities must treat aviation safety and regulatory compliance with the utmost seriousness. There is no room for negligence when lives are at stake.”
