Enugu Air Runway Incident: Safety Non-Negotiable, Gov. Mbah Assures Passengers

Enugu State Governor Peter Mbah has assured passengers and the public that safety remains the highest priority of Enugu Air following Thursday's runway excursion involving one of the airline's aircraft at Benin Airport.

In a statement personally signed on Friday, Mbah expressed sympathy to the 63 passengers and five crew members aboard the aircraft, describing the incident as a traumatic experience while expressing gratitude that no lives were lost and no injuries had been reported.

"The Enugu State Government is aware of the incident of a runway excursion affecting Enugu Air Embraer E170, Flight 4264, operating into Benin Airport from Lagos on Thursday, July 23, 2026," the governor said.

"The government empathises with the 63 passengers and five crew members on board the aircraft over the traumatic experience and is thankful to God that no life was lost and no injuries have so far been reported."

Governor Mbah commended the prompt response of the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB), which has launched an investigation into the incident to determine its cause.

He assured that Enugu Air would provide full cooperation to investigators and all relevant aviation regulatory authorities.

"The government commends the swiftness of the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) in embarking on the ongoing investigation to determine the circumstances and factors that may have led to the incident," he said.

"The government will ensure the full cooperation of its going concern, Enugu Air, with the investigation and regulatory authorities."

While awaiting the outcome of the investigation, the governor defended the airline's operational standards, insisting that Enugu Air was built on a safety-first philosophy.

According to him, the airline's internal quality assurance and quality control systems exceed industry requirements.

"While the outcome of the investigation is awaited, the government assures the public that the operations of Enugu Air are guided by the highest safety standards," Mbah stated.

"The airline is founded on a corporate culture that places safety above profit and schedule, and its quality assurance and quality control systems stipulate a safety threshold that is considerably higher than the industry benchmark."

He added that the airline's emphasis on safety had contributed to growing public confidence and increasing patronage since its launch.

"This accounts for the growing confidence and patronage the airline has continued to enjoy from both passengers and industry stakeholders. Enugu Air will therefore continue to serve its teeming customers and abide by its utmost commitment to safety, professionalism, and a sense of hospitality."

Mbah also expressed appreciation to Nigerians for the support shown to the airline since the incident, noting that many passengers had shared positive experiences about flying with Enugu Air.

"We wish to express our profound gratitude to Nigerians for the outpouring of solidarity since the unfortunate incident," he said.

"Quite uncommonly, Nigerians have continued to share their positive experiences with Enugu Air since it was launched a year ago. This matters so much to us as a government at this time."

The runway excursion involving Enugu Air's Embraer E170 aircraft occurred on Thursday at Benin Airport. Aviation authorities have commenced an investigation to determine the circumstances surrounding the incident. No fatalities or injuries have been reported.