The Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) has raised safety concerns over the runway-end environment, control tower visibility and availability of meteorological information at Benin’s Oba Akenzua II Airport following the July 23 Enugu Air runway overrun.
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).
The recommendations, numbered A-2026-039 to A-2026-042, focus on the runway-end environment, the control tower’s line of sight and the availability of weather 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 entered the unpaved area beyond the runway before striking approach-lighting installations and two fixed concrete structures linked to a decommissioned localiser installation.
All occupants were safely evacuated using the aircraft’s emergency escape slide.
NSIB recommendations
The first recommendation requires the NCAA to ensure that FAAN removes the fixed structures of the decommissioned localiser installation located at the end of Runway 05 at Oba Akenzua II Airport.
The second requires the NCAA to ensure that the control tower is positioned to provide an unrestricted view of all movement areas of the aerodrome.
NSIB’s third recommendation requires FAAN to provide NAMA with a suitable control tower location that offers an unrestricted view of all movement areas.
The fourth recommendation requires NiMet to restore and maintain the serviceability of weather information display equipment provided for operational use at the Benin control tower.
NSIB said its preliminary report was based on information gathered from witness statements, flight recorders, air traffic control communications and a preliminary inspection of the aircraft.
The bureau said the recommendations were prompted by safety concerns involving the runway-end environment, the control tower’s line of sight and the availability of meteorological information.
NSIB said it would further assess the runway condition, including 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.
The investigation will also examine the wreckage, landing gear collapse and separation mechanisms, ground marks, impact sequence and relevant runway-end and aerodrome infrastructure.
The bureau said it would review the flight crew’s training and experience, operational decision-making and applicable Enugu Air procedures.
NSIB stressed that the preliminary findings remain subject to further review and analysis and could change as the investigation progresses.
The final report will contain the bureau’s conclusions and any additional safety recommendations arising from the completed investigation.
