By Isaac Mission
Flight operations at Benin Airport have been disrupted after the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) temporarily closed the runway following Thursday's runway excursion involving an Enugu Air aircraft.
United Nigeria Airlines announced the suspension of all flights to and from Benin Airport, joining Air Peace, which had earlier halted its operations at the airport due to the closure.
In a statement, United Nigeria Airlines said the decision was taken in compliance with FAAN's directive, noting that all scheduled flights to and from Benin would remain cancelled until the runway is reopened.
The airline apologised to passengers affected by the disruption and advised them to contact its customer service team for assistance with rebooking and other travel arrangements.
It also appealed for patience and understanding while aviation authorities complete recovery operations and restore normal flight activities.
The runway closure followed an incident on Thursday involving an Enugu Air Embraer E170 operating Flight 4264 from Lagos to Benin. The aircraft veered off the runway after landing.
Enugu Air confirmed that all 63 passengers and five crew members on board were safely evacuated without injuries or fatalities. The airline added that the aircraft had been secured and the relevant aviation authorities notified.
Meanwhile, the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) has launched an investigation into the incident. Investigators are examining the aircraft, inspecting the runway, interviewing the flight crew and other relevant personnel, and reviewing operational records to determine the cause of the runway excursion.
The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) is providing regulatory oversight throughout the investigation, while FAAN is expected to reopen the runway after recovery operations, safety inspections, and assessments have been completed.
Runway closures are standard safety procedures following aviation incidents to allow investigators to preserve evidence, recover affected aircraft, and ensure the runway is safe before commercial flight operations resume.
