Eyewitness Accounts of Enugu Air Runway Incident at Benin Airport
Residents living near Benin Airport have described moments of panic after an Enugu Air aircraft veered off the runway during landing on Thursday. According to a now-viral report, locals said they heard a loud sound and rushed out to see what had happened. Two eyewitnesses provided detailed accounts of the incident, including what appeared to fall from the aircraft.
Eyewitness Michael Udoh Recalls Loud Noise
One resident, Michael Udoh, spoke about the noise that drew people outside. Quoted by Vanguard, he said: "I heard a loud noise. I thank God nobody died. I thought something fell from the sky. I came out to see an airplane on the ground." Udoh's account highlights the sudden and alarming nature of the event.
Second Eyewitness Moses Idowu Describes Engine Failure Suspicions
Another eyewitness, Moses Idowu, described seeing the aircraft before it touched down and later veered off. "We were in our store. We saw the plane coming down and then went up. It appears the engine failed and the plane came down again," he said. Idowu also spoke about the weather at the time and what he believed detached from the aircraft. "The rain was falling. It was something that fell from the plane," he added.
Residents Describe Aircraft Struggling During Approach
The residents said the sound prompted them to leave their shops and homes. They described the aircraft as struggling during its approach, noting that it appeared to go up again before descending. The incident caused widespread concern among locals, who feared a catastrophic crash.
Enugu Air Confirms No Casualties in Runway Excursion
Enugu Air later addressed the incident involving its aircraft at Benin Airport. The airline stated that the plane experienced a runway excursion after landing. It added that all passengers and crew disembarked safely. The carrier also confirmed that there were no injuries or casualties. The statement helped allay fears among the public and passengers' families.
Social Media Reactions and Previous Report on Pilot's Role
Nigerians have been taking to several social media platforms to react to the unexpected incident involving Enugu Air. Meanwhile, Legit.ng previously reported that an X user drew attention to the pilot’s role after the aircraft ran off the runway at Benin Airport. Family members who came to receive passengers rushed some travellers to hospital following the incident, though no serious injuries were reported.
