A survivor of the Enugu Air aircraft incident at the Benin Airport, Edo State, has shared a chilling account of how passengers narrowly escaped what could have been a tragic crash landing.
Chinedu, a Nigerian rapper and content creator popularly known as Triple Pin, recounted the terrifying experience in a video posted on his social media page shortly after the incident on Thursday.
According to him, the flight, which departed from Lagos, ran into heavy rainfall that significantly reduced visibility, raising concerns among passengers as the aircraft approached Benin.
“The whole window was blurry because of the rain. I kept wondering how the pilot was navigating through that kind of weather,” he said.
He explained that the aircraft circled multiple times while attempting to land, as the pilot searched for a safe approach. However, moments later, the situation took a frightening turn.
“As we were about to land, the plane kept rotating. Suddenly, it lost direction and veered off into the bush. There was a loud noise, and everyone panicked. At that moment, we thought we wouldn’t make it,” he narrated.
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Triple Pin expressed deep gratitude for surviving the incident without injuries, noting that the heavy rainfall may have prevented the aircraft from catching fire.
“That was how I would have died. That was how all my dreams would have ended. But I came out without a scratch. I’m just grateful,” he added.
Meanwhile, the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) has confirmed that the aircraft, an Embraer E170 operating as Flight 4264 from Lagos to Benin, experienced a runway excursion after overrunning Runway 05 during landing at approximately 3:10 p.m.
The agency disclosed that there were 63 passengers and five crew members on board, all of whom were safely evacuated without injuries.
Director-General of the NSIB, Capt. Alex Badeh Jr., described the incident as serious despite the absence of casualties, emphasizing the need for a thorough investigation.
“We are relieved that everyone on board is safe. However, every runway excursion is a serious aviation occurrence that must be carefully examined,” he stated.
Enugu Air has also confirmed the incident, assuring the public of its commitment to safety while noting that some flight operations may experience temporary disruptions as investigations continue.
The incident has since sparked renewed concerns about aviation safety and the impact of adverse weather conditions on flight operations in Nigeria.
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