The Security Situation Room has called for urgent improvements to safety infrastructure and emergency response facilities at Benin Airport following the crash landing of an Enugu Air aircraft on Thursday.
In a statement issued by its Communication Officer, Nkechi Edogbo, the group said the incident involved an Enugu Air aircraft with registration number 5N-ENR, operating on the Enugu–Benin–Lagos route.
According to the statement, the aircraft, carrying 68 passengers, departed Lagos in the early afternoon for a scheduled 30-minute flight to Benin. However, while attempting to land at Benin Airport, it reportedly developed a mechanical fault, overshot the runway after touchdown and veered into a nearby bush.
The organisation said the impact caused significant damage to the aircraft’s interior, including broken passenger seats.
It commended the prompt response of officials of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), but expressed concern that emergency fire services encountered difficulties reaching the crash site because of overgrown vegetation surrounding the airport.
The statement noted that passengers were eventually evacuated from the bush using a Hilux truck and moved to safety, while emergency responders attended to several injured passengers.
The Security Situation Room described the incident as a reminder of the need to strengthen safety measures at Benin Airport, arguing that inadequate fire coverage, poor maintenance and unchecked vegetation could have worsened the outcome.
It warned that the situation could have resulted in a more devastating disaster if a fire had broken out after the crash, adding that the rainy season may have helped prevent such an occurrence.
The group urged the relevant authorities to prioritise regular maintenance, improve fire and rescue capabilities and clear overgrown vegetation around the airport to reduce risks and enhance emergency response.
While commending FAAN officials and other emergency personnel for their swift intervention, the Security Situation Room extended its sympathies to the injured passengers and called for immediate action to address the safety deficiencies identified at the airport.
