United Nigeria Airlines has suspended all flights to and from Benin Airport following the closure of the airport’s runway by the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) after an Enugu Air aircraft veered off the runway.
The airline announced the temporary suspension on Thursday, saying the decision was necessitated by FAAN’s closure of the runway to facilitate aircraft recovery operations and comprehensive safety inspections after the runway excursion involving an Enugu Air Embraer E170.
In a statement issued by its management, United Nigeria Airlines confirmed that all scheduled services on the Benin route had been cancelled and would remain suspended until the runway is declared safe and reopened for normal flight operations.
The airline apologised to passengers affected by the disruption and urged them to contact its customer service channels for rebooking, refunds or alternative travel arrangements, reiterating that passenger safety remains its overriding priority.
The runway was shut after the Enugu Air aircraft skidded off the runway while landing at Benin Airport on Thursday afternoon. All 63 passengers and five crew members on board were safely evacuated, with no injuries or fatalities recorded.
The Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau has launched an investigation to determine the cause of the incident.
The closure has also disrupted operations for other airlines serving Benin Airport, triggering flight cancellations and schedule changes as aviation authorities work to recover the aircraft, inspect the runway and restore normal airport operations.
FAAN has yet to announce when the runway will reopen, leaving passengers and airlines awaiting further updates.
03qj8r