Eyewitnesses have shared dramatic accounts of the Enugu Air runway excursion at Benin Airport, saying they saw what appeared to be an object detach from the aircraft moments before it veered off the runway.
Residents living near the airport said they were startled by a loud bang before rushing outside to see the aircraft struggling during its landing sequence.
Michael Udoh, who lives close to the airport, said the sound initially made him believe something had fallen from the sky.
“I heard a loud noise. I thanked God that nobody died. I thought something had fallen from the sky, but when I came outside, I saw an aircraft on the ground,” he said.
Another witness, Moses Idowu, said he observed the aircraft descend, climb briefly, and then come down again before leaving the runway. He also claimed something appeared to fall from the aircraft during the incident, although aviation authorities have not confirmed that account.
The aircraft, operated by Enugu Air, was landing at Benin Airport during rainy weather when the runway excursion occurred. Emergency responders quickly arrived at the scene and evacuated passengers and crew.
Initial reports suggested that some passengers received medical attention, but Enugu Air later stated that everyone on board safely disembarked and that there were no fatalities or serious injuries.
The airline confirmed that one of its aircraft experienced a runway excursion after landing and reassured the public that passenger safety remained its highest priority.
Nigeria’s aviation authorities have since launched an investigation to determine the cause of the incident. Investigators are expected to examine the aircraft, weather conditions, runway environment and eyewitness accounts as part of efforts to establish exactly what happened.
The incident has renewed discussions about aviation safety and the importance of thorough investigations before conclusions are drawn. Aviation experts caution that eyewitness observations, while valuable, do not always reflect the technical cause of an accident and must be verified through official findings.
The outcome of the investigation is expected to provide clarity on whether mechanical failure, weather conditions, operational factors or other issues contributed to the runway excursion.
