The Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) has identified the unavailability of the aircraft’s autobrake system as one of the factors that contributed to the runway excursion involving an Enugu Air flight at the Benin Airport in Edo State.
The incident occurred on July 23, 2026, when Enugu Air Flight 4264, operated with an Embraer E170 aircraft, was landing at Oba Akenzua II Airport after a flight from Lagos.
According to the bureau’s preliminary findings, the aircraft touched down approximately 1,641 metres beyond the runway threshold at about 138 knots while moderate rainfall, poor visibility and a tailwind were present.
The aircraft’s autobrake system was unavailable at the time of landing, leaving the crew to depend on manual braking, ground spoilers and thrust reversers to slow the aircraft.
Despite these measures, the aircraft could not stop within the remaining runway distance and subsequently veered off the runway. It struck seven approach lights and two concrete structures before its landing gear collapsed, resulting in substantial damage to the aircraft.
All 68 occupants on board survived the incident without sustaining injuries.
The NSIB said it responded immediately to the occurrence and commenced investigations in line with the Civil Aviation (Investigation of Air Accidents and Incidents) Regulations 2026 and Annex 13 of the Convention on International Civil Aviation.
The bureau explained that its preliminary report was based on information obtained from witness accounts, flight recorder data, air traffic control transcripts and an initial examination of the aircraft.
However, the agency cautioned that the findings remain preliminary and may change as the investigation progresses.
It stressed that no final cause of the accident has been established and that the investigation is not intended to assign blame or determine liability, but to identify safety issues and prevent similar occurrences in the future.
The NSIB said it had also issued immediate safety recommendations arising from the preliminary findings, while further investigations continue.
