BREAKING: 68 Passengers Escape Death as Enugu Air Plane Crash-Lands in Benin

A commercial aircraft operated by Enugu Air was involved in a runway incident at the Benin Airport on Thursday, with all 68 passengers on board escaping unharmed after the plane crash-landed during its scheduled journey.

The aircraft, identified by registration number 5N-ENR, was operating an Enugu-Benin-Lagos flight when the incident occurred.

Passengers and crew members were safely evacuated from the aircraft shortly after the accident, with no loss of life or injuries reported.

POLITICS NIGERIA gathered that the plane encountered difficulties while landing at the Benin Airport in Edo State, causing it to overshoot the runway and veer into a nearby bush area.

Airport officials and emergency response teams were immediately mobilised to the scene. Rescue personnel moved swiftly to secure the aircraft and assist passengers out of the plane.

A source familiar with the incident said the aircraft left the designated runway area moments after touchdown.

“The Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAN) immediately swung into action, and all the passengers were evacuated. No casualty was recorded,” the source disclosed.

The source, who requested anonymity because he was not authorised to speak publicly on the matter, said all passengers were accounted for after the evacuation exercise.

According to information obtained by Politics Nigeria, the aircraft had 68 passengers on board in addition to its crew members.

However, the exact number of crew members aboard the flight could not be immediately confirmed as of the time of filing this report.

Several passengers were said to have experienced moments of panic when the aircraft left the runway. However, emergency responders quickly reassured those on board and guided them to safety.

Airport operations around the affected area were temporarily monitored as officials assessed the situation and ensured that the aircraft posed no further risk.

Authorities have yet to release an official statement on the possible cause of the incident. Aviation investigators are expected to examine the circumstances surrounding the crash-landing, including weather conditions, the state of the runway and other operational factors.

Airport personnel, security agencies and emergency workers remained at the scene for several hours following the accident as recovery efforts commenced.

As of press time, officials had not announced whether the aircraft would be moved immediately from the location or if further technical inspections would be carried out before recovery operations begin.

The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria is expected to provide additional details after a preliminary assessment of the incident.

Meanwhile, relatives and friends of passengers expressed relief after learning that everyone on board survived the accident.

Further details are expected as investigations continue…