Air Peace has announced the temporary suspension of all flight operations to and from Benin Airport following the closure of the airport’s runway after an aircraft was involved in a runway excursion.
The airline said the disruption, which affected its scheduled services on Thursday, was beyond its control and appealed to passengers for understanding while airport authorities work to reopen the facility.
In a statement issued on Thursday, Air Peace attributed the suspension to the temporary shutdown of the runway caused by a runway incursion.
“Air Peace wishes to inform its valued customers and the general public that all flights to and from Benin Airport have been temporarily suspended today following the closure of the airport’s runway due to a runway incursion.
“The temporary suspension and cancellation of affected flights are necessitated by circumstances beyond the airline’s control. We sincerely regret the inconvenience this disruption may cause and appeal to all affected passengers for their patience and understanding as the relevant airport authorities work to restore normal operations.”
The closure follows an incident involving an Enugu Air Embraer E170 aircraft operating Flight 4264 from Lagos to Benin, which overshot the end of Runway 05 after landing on Thursday.
The aircraft reportedly veered off the runway in what aviation authorities described as a runway excursion.
Meanwhile, the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) has launched an investigation into the occurrence to determine the circumstances that led to the incident.
The bureau confirmed that all 63 passengers and five crew members aboard the Enugu Air flight were safely evacuated and that no injuries or fatalities were recorded.
It also disclosed that a preliminary investigation report would be released within 30 days in line with aviation safety regulations.
The runway closure has disrupted flight schedules for airlines operating into Benin Airport, with Air Peace becoming the first carrier to officially suspend operations pending the restoration of normal airport activities.
(Ripples)