Nigeria: Benin Airport Runway Closure Disrupts Airline Operations As United Nigeria, Air Peace Suspend Flights

What the report says

AllAfrica, distributing a Premium Times report from Abuja, said flight operations at Benin Airport were disrupted after the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria closed the runway following a runway excursion involving an Enugu Air aircraft on Thursday. United Nigeria Airlines subsequently cancelled its services to and from the airport, joining Air Peace, which had already suspended Benin flights.

According to the report, United Nigeria Airlines said the cancellations would remain in place until the runway is reopened. The carrier described the move as a response to FAAN’s directive and asked affected passengers to contact customer service for rebooking and related support. It also apologized for the disruption and urged patience while authorities work toward restoring normal operations.

The closure followed an incident involving an Enugu Air Embraer E170 operating flight 4264 from Lagos to Benin, which left the runway after landing. Premium Times reported that Enugu Air said all 63 passengers and five crew members got off the aircraft safely, with no injuries or deaths reported. The aircraft was secured and aviation authorities were informed under standard procedures.

The Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau has begun an inquiry, with investigators reviewing the aircraft, runway conditions, crew and personnel accounts, and operational records to establish what happened. The report noted that runway closures after such incidents are a routine safety measure, allowing recovery work, evidence preservation and inspections before flights resume. The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority is providing regulatory oversight, while FAAN is expected to reopen the runway after safety checks and recovery operations are completed.