The Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) has identified concerns over the runway-end environment, control tower visibility and availability of meteorological information at Benin airport following the July 23 Enugu Air runway overrun.
In its preliminary report released on Friday, the bureau
issued four immediate safety recommendations to the Nigerian Civil Aviation
Authority (NCAA), Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) and Nigerian
Meteorological Agency (NiMet).
The recommendations, numbered A-2026-039 to A-2026-042,
concern the runway-end environment, control tower line of sight and
availability of meteorological information.
The accident involved an Embraer ERJ 170-100LR aircraft with
registration number 5N-ENR, operated by Enugu Air Limited.
The aircraft was operating scheduled passenger flight
ENU4264 from Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, to Oba Akenzua II
Airport, Benin, when it landed on Runway 05 and subsequently overran the
runway.
Five crew members and 63 passengers were on board.
The aircraft entered the unpaved area beyond the runway before striking approach-lighting installations and two fixed concrete structures associated with a decommissioned localiser installation.
All 68 occupants were evacuated safely using the aircraft’s
emergency escape slide.
NSIB RECOMMENDATIONS
The first recommendation by NSIB requires the NCAA to ensure
that FAAN removes the fixed structures of the decommissioned localiser
installation located at the end of Runway 05 at Oba Akenzua II Airport, Benin.
According to the preliminary report, the second
recommendation requires the NCAA to ensure that the control tower is positioned
to provide an unrestricted view of all the movement areas of the aerodrome.
The third recommendation requires FAAN to provide a suitable
control tower location for NAMA to ensure an unrestricted view of all the
movement areas of the aerodrome.
The fourth recommendation requires NiMet to restore and
maintain the serviceability of the weather information display equipment
provided for operational use at the Benin control tower.
NSIB said the preliminary report was based on information
gathered from witness statements, flight recorders, air traffic control
communications and a preliminary inspection of the aircraft.
According to the bureau, the four recommendations were
prompted by safety concerns relating to the runway-end environment, the control
tower’s line of sight and the availability of meteorological information.
“The preliminary report also contains four immediate safety
recommendations, A-2026-039 to A-2026-042, addressed to the Nigerian Civil
Aviation Authority, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria and the Nigerian
Meteorological Agency, concerning the runway-end environment, control tower
line of sight and the availability of meteorological information,” the bureau
said.
The NSIB said it would further assess the runway condition,
including the implementation of the global reporting format (GRF) and runway
condition report (RCR), as well as the collection, dissemination and use of
meteorological and runway-condition information.
The bureau said it will also examine the wreckage, landing
gear collapse and separation mechanisms, ground marks, impact sequence and
relevant runway-end and aerodrome infrastructure.
NSIB added that it will review the flight crew’s training,
experience, operational decision-making and applicable Enugu Air procedures.
The bureau said the preliminary findings are subject to
further review and analysis and may change as the investigation progresses.
The final report will contain the NSIB’s conclusions and any
additional safety recommendations arising from the completed investigation.
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