The Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau, NSIB, has released a preliminary report on the July 23 accident involving an Enugu Air Embraer ERJ 170-100LR aircraft with registration 5N-ENR at the Oba Akenzua II Airport, Benin.
This was contained in a statement signed and forwarded to journalists in Abuja on Friday by the NSIB’s Director of Public Affairs and Family Assistance, Mrs Funke Adebayo-Arowojobe.
According to the Bureau, the aircraft, flight ENU4264 from Lagos, landed on Runway 05 at about 2:55pm with five crew members and 63 passengers on board.
It overran the end of the runway and entered the unpaved area beyond, striking approach-lighting installations and two concrete structures linked to a decommissioned localizer.
All 68 occupants were evacuated without injury using emergency escape slides.
Giving details in the statement, the NSIB said the preliminary report contains factual information gathered so far from witness statements, flight recorders, air traffic control communications and initial inspection of the aircraft.
“The preliminary report presents the factual information gathered so far… The investigation remains ongoing, and further technical examinations are underway” the Bureau stated.
The report also issued four immediate safety recommendations, A-2026-039 to A-2026-042, to the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria and the Nigerian Meteorological Agency.
The recommendations cover the runway-end environment, control tower line of sight, and availability of meteorological information.
The NSIB said the preliminary report and a preliminary flight path recreation video based on current data are available for download on its website.
Adebayo-Arowojobe noted that the objective of the investigation is accident prevention and not to apportion blame or liability.
“In accordance with Annex 13 to the Convention on International Civil Aviation, the sole objective of the investigation is the prevention of accidents and incidents. It is not the purpose of the investigation to apportion blame or liability” she said.
She added that information in the preliminary report remains subject to review and may change, while the final report will contain the Bureau’s conclusions and any further safety recommendations.
