The Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) has raised fresh safety concerns over facilities and operational conditions at the Oba Akenzua II Airport, Benin, following the July 23 runway overrun involving an Enugu Air aircraft.
In its preliminary report released on Friday, the bureau issued four immediate safety recommendations to the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) and Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet), focusing on the runway-end environment, control tower visibility and availability of meteorological information.
The incident involved an Embraer ERJ 170-100LR aircraft, registration 5N-ENR, operated by Enugu Air Limited.
The aircraft was operating scheduled passenger flight ENU4264 from Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, to Oba Akenzua II Airport, Benin, when it landed on Runway 05 and subsequently overran the runway.
There were 68 people on board, comprising five crew members and 63 passengers.
The aircraft reportedly entered the unpaved area beyond the runway, where it struck approach-lighting installations and two fixed concrete structures associated with a decommissioned localiser installation.
Despite the incident, all occupants were safely evacuated using the aircraft’s emergency escape slide.
NSIB Flags Four Safety Concerns
According to the NSIB, the first recommendation, designated A-2026-039, requires the NCAA to ensure that FAAN removes the fixed structures of the decommissioned localiser installation located at the end of Runway 05.
The second recommendation, A-2026-040, calls for the NCAA to ensure that the control tower is positioned to provide an unrestricted view of all movement areas of the aerodrome.
The third recommendation, A-2026-041, requires FAAN to provide a suitable location for the control tower to ensure that the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) has an unrestricted view of all movement areas.
The fourth recommendation, A-2026-042, requires NiMet to restore and maintain the serviceability of weather-information display equipment provided for operational use at the Benin control tower.
The bureau said the recommendations were driven by concerns identified around the runway-end environment, control tower line of sight and availability of meteorological information.
“The preliminary report also contains four immediate safety recommendations, A-2026-039 to A-2026-042, addressed to the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria and the Nigerian Meteorological Agency, concerning the runway-end environment, control tower line of sight and the availability of meteorological information,” the NSIB said.
Further Investigation Underway
The NSIB said its preliminary findings were based on information obtained from witness statements, flight recorders, air traffic control communications and an initial inspection of the aircraft.
The bureau said it would conduct further assessments of the runway condition, including the implementation of the Global Reporting Format (GRF) and Runway Condition Report (RCR), as well as the collection, dissemination and use of meteorological and runway-condition information.
Investigators will also examine the aircraft wreckage, landing gear collapse and separation mechanisms, ground marks, impact sequence and relevant infrastructure at the runway end.
The investigation will further review the flight crew’s training and experience, operational decision-making and applicable Enugu Air procedures.
The NSIB cautioned that its preliminary findings remain subject to further review and analysis and could change as the investigation progresses.
It said the final report would contain its conclusions and any additional safety recommendations arising from the completed investigation.
