The Security Situation Room has expressed concern over the emergency landing involving an Enugu Air aircraft at Benin Airport on Thursday, describing the incident as a wake-up call for authorities to address critical safety deficiencies at the facility.
In a statement signed by its Communication Officer, Nkechi Edogbo, the organisation said the aircraft, with registration number 5N-ENR, was operating on the Enugu–Benin–Lagos route when it encountered a mechanical fault during landing.
According to the statement, the aircraft had departed Lagos earlier in the day with 68 passengers on board for the scheduled flight to Benin.
“The aircraft reportedly developed a mechanical malfunction while attempting to land at Benin Airport. After touchdown, it overshot the runway and veered into a nearby bush,” the statement said.
It added that the impact caused significant damage to the aircraft’s interior, including broken passenger seats, while several passengers sustained varying degrees of injuries.
The group commended the prompt intervention of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) but noted that emergency responders, particularly the airport fire service, faced challenges reaching the crash site.
“Personnel of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria responded promptly to the incident. However, the fire service encountered difficulties accessing the crash site because the vegetation around the airport was overgrown, hampering immediate access and effective fire coverage,” the statement noted.
It explained that passengers were eventually evacuated from the bush using a Hilux vehicle and moved to safety, while emergency responders attended to the injured.
The Security Situation Room described the condition of the airport as unacceptable, warning that inadequate maintenance and poor emergency preparedness could have led to a far more devastating outcome.
“It is quite unfortunate that Benin Airport, one of the oldest airports in the Midwest region, continues to lack adequate fire coverage and proper maintenance. The overgrown bushes around the airport made access difficult and could have worsened the outcome of this incident,” the statement said.
“It is only by chance, given that we are in the rainy season, that the situation did not result in a more severe disaster caused by a fire outbreak on the ill-fated aircraft,” it added.
The organisation said the incident underscored the urgent need to improve aviation safety infrastructure at the airport.
“This incident highlights the urgent need for improved safety infrastructure, regular maintenance and vegetation control at Benin Airport to prevent a recurrence and safeguard lives,” the statement read.
While commending FAAN officials and other emergency responders for their swift action, the Security Situation Room expressed sympathy to the injured passengers and called on the relevant authorities to urgently address the safety concerns identified at the airport.
“We commend the quick response of FAAN officials and all emergency personnel. We also extend our sympathies to the injured passengers and call on the relevant authorities to take immediate action to address the safety deficiencies identified at the airport,” the statement concluded.