Why an Enugu Air Flight Overran the Runway: NSIB Releases Shocking Preliminary Findings

Preliminary findings by the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) have revealed infrastructural vulnerabilities at Benin Airport that could have caused fatalities in the July 23, 2026, runway excursion incident of an Enugu Air flight.

The investigative report highlights a dangerous combination of adverse weather, unserviceable airport equipment, and structural obstructions that compromised flight safety during the landing sequence.

Crew Attempted Manual Landing Amid System Deficit

The NSIB preliminary report found that the aircraft’s autobrake system was faulty and that the pilots, fully aware of the situation, opted to rely entirely on manual braking.

However, the crew faced a highly challenging environment characterized by a wet runway surface, heavy active rainfall, severely reduced visibility, and a shifting tailwind.

Timeline of the Runway Overrun

According to the NSIB report, the flight touchdown occurred approximately 1,641 metres past the threshold of Runway 05.

Traveling at a speed of about 138 knots, the aircraft was unable to stop within the remaining tarmac length, resulting in a runway overrun.

During the excursion, the aircraft sustained damage after striking approach-lighting equipment located past the runway edge and two concrete structures tied to a decommissioned localizer installation.

Miraculously, all 68 occupants on board were evacuated safely. No injuries or fatalities were reported.

Unserviceable Equipment and Tower Obstructions Exposed

Beyond the factors involving the aircraft performance and crew actions, the NSIB report cast a harsh light on systemic infrastructure failures at Benin Airport. These include missing runway condition data, a broken weather display system limiting real-time meteorological updates, and a blocked control tower line-of-sight.

In a startling revelation, the NSIB noted that an incomplete building structure physically obstructed the control tower, preventing air traffic controllers from having a clear view of critical sections of the aerodrome.

NSIB Issues Immediate Safety Recommendations

To mitigate immediate risks and prevent future incidents, the NSIB has issued urgent safety directives to regulatory authorities. They have been mandated to immediately clear tower sight lines, resolve the infrastructure blockages, and provide a strategically suitable tower location for the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA).

NSIB also directed the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) to restore and maintain the airport’s weather information display while directing airport authorities to remove all concrete and fixed structures located beyond the Runway 05 perimeter.