The management of Enugu Air has attributed the safe outcome of its recent Enugu Air incident to the professionalism of its flight crew, favourable weather conditions and a swift emergency response after one of its aircraft experienced a runway excursion. The airline’s Flight 4264, registered as 5N-ENR, overran the runway on Thursday while operating a flight from Lagos to Benin City. All 63 passengers and five crew members onboard were safely evacuated without loss of life.
Speaking during an interview on TVC News, the airline’s Chief Executive Officer and Accountable Manager, Captain Tolu Ita, said preliminary findings indicate that the aircraft landed normally before deploying its braking system and reverse thrust. Despite these actions, she said the aircraft failed to stop before exiting the runway and coming to rest on grassy terrain. According to Ita, the crew immediately initiated emergency evacuation procedures to ensure the safety of everyone onboard.
The CEO commended the pilots for handling the emergency professionally, describing their response as exemplary under difficult circumstances. She explained that although the aircraft was equipped for emergencies, the crew had to improvise aspects of the evacuation while ensuring passengers exited the aircraft safely.
Ita also confirmed that Enugu Air is carrying out its own internal investigation while fully cooperating with the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB). According to her, investigators are working to retrieve and analyse the aircraft’s flight data recorder, commonly known as the black box, which will provide critical information about the incident.
Responding to concerns about the airline’s safety record, Ita urged Nigerians not to judge the carrier based on a single occurrence. She noted that since receiving its Air Operator’s Certificate (AOC) on March 10 and commencing operations as Enugu Air on March 16, the airline has successfully completed more than 3,500 flights.
According to her, one runway excursion should not define the airline’s overall safety performance. She also pointed out that several established airlines have experienced similar incidents without their long-term safety records being questioned.
Reflecting on the incident, Ita expressed gratitude that the outcome was not more severe. She revealed that both main landing gears collapsed during the excursion, with one collapsing into a wing that contained fuel. Despite the potential danger, she believes several factors helped prevent a more serious accident.
According to the CEO, the pilots’ skill played a major role, while the rainy weather and soft grassy surface likely prevented sparks that could have ignited the aircraft. She explained that the wet conditions and softer ground helped absorb the impact after the aircraft left the runway, reducing the possibility of a fire.
Enugu Air reiterated that the cause of the incident has not yet been officially determined. The airline said it will await the outcome of the NSIB investigation before making any final conclusions, while maintaining that passenger safety remains its highest priority.
