Everyone was panicking online after that Enugu Air flight overran the runway in Benin - but the airline's CEO has now come out to set the record straight. And no, it wasn't a crash.

So, here's what actually happened according to cbinews.tv.

Enugu Air's Chief Executive Officer and Accountable Manager, Captain Tolu Ita, has clarified all the drama around that Benin Airport incident, and she is insisting it was NOT a crash or an emergency landing.

In a video shared on the airline's official page on Friday, Captain Ita explained that the aircraft had hydroplaned while landing, which caused what is known in aviation as a runway excursion. The good news? Everyone walked away safe.

"We are deeply grateful that all passengers and crew members are safe. Most importantly, there were no injuries and no casualties," she said.

For context, the aircraft was operating a scheduled flight from Lagos to Benin - Flight 4264, an Embraer E170 - when it landed and overran the end of Runway 05 during the landing roll on Thursday.

"This was not a crash nor was it an emergency landing, but it was a serious incident," she stressed.

Captain Ita also noted that a full investigation is already underway, as is standard practice globally, and the airline is working closely with the relevant aviation authorities.

"As is standard practice across the global aviation industry, a full investigation is being conducted in close collaboration with the relevant aviation agencies to establish the complete facts surrounding this occurrence. We are committed to full cooperation with these agencies and will share verified updates as they become available," she added.

She reassured passengers that safety remains the airline's number one priority, saying: "Nothing matters to us more than safety and the well-being of those who choose to fly with us. Safety is, and will always remain, the foundation of who we are as an airline."

She also thanked passengers, crew, airport officials, military personnel, emergency responders, and the public for their support.

"We understand the trust that passengers place in us every time they choose to fly with us, and we will never take that trust for granted… We will not let you down," she said.

Meanwhile, the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) has confirmed it has commenced investigation into the incident, stating that all 63 passengers and five crew members were safely accounted for with no injuries recorded. A preliminary report is expected within 30 days.

The incident led to a temporary closure of the Benin Airport runway, which in turn prompted Air Peace to suspend its flights to and from Benin.

Source: cbinews.tv

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