Nigeria’s safety investigators have traced the Enugu Air runway excursion in Benin to a combination of braking and airfield conditions after an Embraer ERJ 170-100LR touched down well beyond the threshold and overran Runway 05 at Oba Akenzua II Airport. The Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau identified an inoperative autobrake, a wet runway and a tailwind among the factors involved in the incident, in which Flight ENU4264 came to rest after striking approach lights and fixed concrete structures, while all 68 people on board evacuated safely.
The preliminary findings indicate the aircraft landed about 1,641.5 metres beyond the runway threshold, leaving limited stopping distance on the runway surface. Before departure from the runway, the crew deployed spoilers, reversers and manual braking, but the aircraft still exited the paved surface. The bureau also flagged airport infrastructure issues, including a tower weather display that was unserviceable and obstructed visibility for the controller because of an unfinished building nearby.
Weather and runway-state information formed part of the safety concerns. Air traffic control advised that the runway was wet, but did not provide runway condition or runway condition code data. The crew had already identified that the autobrake was not functioning, and conditions deteriorated further with moderate rain and reduced visibility. The bureau issued four immediate safety recommendations and stressed that the inquiry remains open, with no final cause or liability determination yet.