(Benin Airport. Photo by Leaderahip News)
The runway at Benin Airport in Edo State has reopened for flight operations, 12 days after an Enugu Air aircraft swerved off the runway immediately after landing, halting airport services.
ValueJet announced the reopening on Tuesday, saying that flights to and from Benin would resume on Wednesday, August 5.
“We are pleased to announce that the Benin runway has reopened, and ValueJet flights will resume on Wednesday, August 5th, 2026,” the airline stated in a note to passengers.
In a separate phone interview with an online report, on Tuesday evening, a Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) official, who requested anonymity because they were not authorized to speak to the media, verified the reopening.
Following the incident on July 23, the runway was closed to allow for the retrieval of the affected aircraft as well as safety checks.
According to a reports online, an Enugu Air Embraer E170 operating Flight 4264 from Lagos to Benin skidded off the runway after landing at Benin Airport on July 23.
The aircraft carried 63 passengers and five crew members. All passengers and staff members disembarked safely, with no injuries or deaths reported.
Enugu Air first identified the incident as a runway incursion. The event, however, entailed the aircraft leaving the runway after landing, a condition known as a runway excursion in aviation.
A runway excursion happens when an aircraft unintentionally departs off the specified runway surface during takeoff or landing.
The aircraft was secured following the incident, and the appropriate aviation authorities were alerted.
The Nigerian Safety inquiry Bureau (NSIB) then sent its Go Team to Benin Airport to conduct an impartial inquiry into the incident.
The bureau stated that investigators would preserve evidence, examine the aircraft, analyze runway conditions, interview the flight crew and other relevant persons, and review operational and technical records to determine the circumstances of the occurrence.
Alex Badeh Jr., Director-General of the NSIB, stated that the absence of injuries did not minimize the gravity of the situation.
He encouraged the public to avoid speculating while investigations followed international aviation rules.
Tolu Ita, Enugu Air’s Chief Executive Officer and Accountable Manager, later stated that the aircraft encountered runway excursion due to hydroplaning during landing.
She emphasized that the incident was not a crash or an emergency landing, but rather a significant aviation occurrence.
Hydroplaning happens when water creates a film between an aircraft’s tyres and the runway surface, reducing grip and possibly impacting braking and directional control.
However, Ms Ita’s report does not establish the cause of the incidence, which is still under investigation.
Following the incident, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) closed the runway to permit emergency response operations, aircraft recovery, and safety checks.
The shutdown interrupted scheduled flights at the airport, with Air Peace and United Nigeria Airlines among those who ceased service to and from Benin.
Both airlines cited the runway closure when reporting cancellations and changes to their operations.