The Enugu Air Incident at the Benin Airport last week is still generating reactions from stakeholders.
The latest to speak on this is the Chief Executive Officer of Enugu Air, Captain Tolu Ita who said, the collapse of the main landing gear of the airline’s Embraer E170 after it overshot the runway at Benin Airport could have sparked a devastating post-crash fire if sparks had ignited the aircraft’s fuel tanks.
According to the airline’s CEOsays the Embraer E170 made what appeared to be a normal landing, but failed to stop within the available runway distance despite the deployment of brakes and reverse thrust, resulting in a runway excursion.
Speaking during a TVC interview, Captain Ita said the crew immediately activated emergency procedures and safely evacuated all passengers through the emergency slides, describing the response as a reflection of the airline’s continuous safety training.
She stressed that the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau, NSIB, is leading the official investigation, while Enugu Air has submitted its preliminary report and is working with investigators to analyse the aircraft’s flight data and cockpit voice recorders.
Captain Ita cautioned against speculation, saying only the NSIB can determine the cause of the occurrence.
She noted that since commencing operations in March, the airline has completed more than three thousand five hundred flights, insisting that one incident does not define its safety record.
The airline has also directed its pilots to strictly adhere to wet-runway landing procedures during the rainy season to minimise the risk of hydroplaning.
While describing the absence of casualties as a blessing, Captain Ita said the grassy area beyond the runway may have helped prevent sparks that could have ignited the aircraft’s fuel, but stressed that the observation remains a personal opinion and not an official finding.
The NSIB is expected to release a preliminary report after completing its analysis.
Reporting By Nosa Aituamen