Governor of Enugu State, Peter Mbah, has backed the ongoing investigation into Thursday’s runway incident involving the state-owned airline, Enugu Air, stressing that safety remains non-negotiable in the airline’s operations.

Mbah, in a statement personally signed by him and made available to journalists on Friday, commended aviation authorities for swiftly launching a probe into the incident and assured the public of the state’s full cooperation with investigators. He also expressed sympathy with the passengers and crew members who were on board the aircraft.

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.

The Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) on Thursday said it has commenced an investigation into a runway excursion involving an Enugu Air Embraer E170 aircraft at Benin Airport.

The aircraft, operating as Flight 4264 (registration 5N-ENR) from Lagos (LOS) to Benin (BNI), had been involved in a runway excursion after overrunning the end of Runway 05 during landing.

The NSIB said that the incident occurred at approximately 3:10 p.m. on Thursday, 23 July 2026, with 63 passengers and five crew members on board.

It also confirmed that all passengers and crew have been accounted for, while no injuries have been reported. (Channels TV)

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