Governor of Enugu State, Peter Mbah, has reacted to Thursday’s runway incident involving the state-owned airline, Enugu Air, at Benin Airport, expressing sympathy with the passengers and crew members over the traumatic experience.
Mbah, in a statement personally signed by him, commended aviation authorities for swiftly launching an investigation into the incident, stressing that safety remains non-negotiable for Enugu Air.
In the statement made available to journalists on Friday, the governor said: “The Enugu State Government is aware of the runway excursion incident involving Enugu Air Embraer E170, Flight 4264, operating from Lagos to Benin on Thursday, July 23, 2026.
“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.
“The government commends the swiftness of the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) in commencing the ongoing investigation to determine the circumstances and factors that may have led to the incident. The government will ensure the full cooperation of its airline, Enugu Air, with the investigation and regulatory authorities.
“While awaiting the outcome of the investigation, the government assures the public that the operations of Enugu Air are guided by the highest safety standards. The airline is founded on a corporate culture that places safety above profit and schedules, and its quality assurance and quality control systems stipulate a safety threshold considerably higher than the industry benchmark.
“This accounts for the growing confidence and patronage the airline continues to enjoy from both passengers and industry stakeholders. Enugu Air will therefore continue to serve its teeming customers while upholding its commitment to safety, professionalism and hospitality.”
Mbah also thanked Nigerians for their support following the incident, noting that many people had continued to share their positive experiences with the airline.
“The Enugu State Government wishes to express its profound gratitude to Nigerians for the outpouring of solidarity since the unfortunate incident. 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,” he said.
