Enugu Air: FAAN Calls for Patience as NSIB Begins Investigation

The recent runway excursion involving an Enugu Air Embraer E170 at Benin Airport has expectedly dominated public discourse, triggering heightened anxiety after dramatic footage of the stranded aircraft flooded social media platforms within minutes of the incident.

However, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has strongly condemned the rush to judgment by self-proclaimed aviation experts who assigned blame before official investigative bodies could even secure the scene.

Speaking to Aviation Metric at the weekend,  FAAN’s Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Henry Agbebire, expressed shock at the rapid wave of online commentary that emerged while emergency operations were still underway.

Agbebire noted that before passengers were interviewed or technical teams from the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) could begin their analysis, online pundits had already delivered verdicts variously blaming the flight crew, faulting airport rescue operations, and casting doubt on Nigeria’s aviation safety regulatory framework.

Calling for sober reflection, Agbebire emphasised that global aviation safety relies on rigorous empirical evidence rather than knee-jerk online reactions.

“One of aviation’s greatest strengths is that it is built not on assumptions, but on verifiable evidence,” Agbebire stated. “Every occurrence, whether minor or major, is subjected to a structured, internationally recognised investigative process designed not to apportion blame, but to discover facts and enhance safety.”

He added that the NSIB mobilised its Go Team within minutes to preserve vital evidence, inspect Runway 05, examine the airframe, and begin interviewing flight and ground personnel.

 A preliminary report is expected within statutory timelines, to be followed by a comprehensive final report containing safety recommendations.

Educating the public on aviation safety dynamics, Agbebire pointed out that runway excursions—while serious are among the most widely researched events globally and happen even in the most technologically advanced aviation markets.

“It is therefore premature for anyone to attribute responsibility before investigators have completed their work. Equally important is understanding what the public often sees during such emergencies. A short video clip, however dramatic, rarely captures the complete emergency response. What appears on social media is usually only a fragment of a much larger operational picture.

“Many emergency actions occur beyond the camera’s field of view. Incident command systems, communications between agencies, airport emergency plans, rescue coordination, aircraft safety assessments and operational decisions, all unfold simultaneously, often outside public view”.

Determining causation, he explained, requires evaluating a complex web of variables such as weather conditions, wind components, and runway surface characteristics, braking action, aircraft performance metrics, visibility, and crew decision-making.

“Determining causation is therefore an exercise in scientific analysis, not social media commentary,” he emphasised, adding that a short video clip, no matter how dramatic, fails to capture the full scope of an emergency response.

Agbebire noted that much of an emergency response, including incident command coordination, inter-agency communication, and aircraft safety assessments—happens out of the camera’s frame. Judging an entire operational response from a few seconds of viral phone footage, he argued, is both technically flawed and unfair to first responders.

While asserting that Nigerian aviation agencies are not above public scrutiny, Agbebire drew a clear line between helpful critique and reckless panic-mongering.

“Constructive criticism has always been one of the drivers of safer aviation worldwide… However, there is a significant difference between informed scrutiny and instant condemnation. While one strengthens safety, the other weakens public confidence without advancing public understanding.”

Constructive criticism has always been one of the drivers of safer aviation worldwide. Every investigation exists precisely because the industry believes there is always room for improvement. Ultimately, airlines learn, airports improve, regulators strengthen oversight, manufacturers redesign systems, and procedures evolve. There is a significant difference between informed scrutiny and instant condemnation”, he added

Wole Shadare