Passengers and crew escaped unhurt on Thursday evening after an Enugu Air aircraft experienced a nose landing gear fault during landing at the Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu, forcing the runway to be temporarily shut.
The incident involved the airline’s aircraft with registration number 5N-BZN, which had flown in from Lagos. It marked one of the first operational emergencies for Enugu Air, the commercial carrier owned by the Enugu State Government and inaugurated just four months earlier.
How the incident unfolded
The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria said the aircraft was landing on Runway 08 at about 7:10 p.m. when the nose-wheel fault occurred. At approximately 19:10 hrs this evening, an aircraft operating into Enugu from Lagos (registration 5N-BZN) experienced a fault with the nose-landing gear while landing on Runway 08 and became immobile on the runway,” FAAN Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Henry Agbebire, said in a statement.
Because the aircraft could not taxi off the runway, it blocked operations and the airport was shut down while emergency procedures were activated.
FAAN’s aerodrome rescue and firefighting services, fire tenders and medical standby teams were immediately deployed as standard procedure to secure the airside and assist occupants.
Safe evacuation and response
Officials said the immediate priority was the safety of passengers, crew and airport users. All occupants were safely disembarked and evacuated to the terminal using apron buses . Evacuation was completed without injury and concluded at 19:48 hrs,” Agbebire confirmed.
FAAN added that the aircraft and airside were secured while arrangements were made to recover the plane.
Sources within FAAN in Enugu confirmed to the media that the aircraft involved belonged to Enugu Air, which was launched in July 2025 by the Enugu State Government. It is the second state-owned commercial airline in Nigeria after Ibom Air.
Context of the new carrier
Enugu Air was inaugurated in July 2025 by the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, as part of efforts to expand air connectivity from the South-east and boost the state’s economy.
The airline was positioned to operate domestic routes from Enugu, with plans to link the region to major commercial hubs including Lagos and Abuja. Thursday’s incident therefore drew significant attention because it involved one of Nigeria’s newest state-owned carriers.
Aviation authorities have not speculated on the cause of the nose gear fault. FAAN said. It would support the aircraft operator and investigators as they determine what led to the malfunction.
Safety protocols kick in
Nigeria’s aviation emergency framework was activated swiftly. FAAN said its rescue teams remained on standby while the aircraft was secured on the runway. The authority assured travelers that updates would be provided as soon as authoritative information becomes available.The incident also underscores the importance of runway safety and rapid response. In pr evious cases at Nigerian airports, similar gear-related faults have led to temporary closures while recovery operations are carried out. The Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau typically conducts an assessment, secures evidence, and issues preliminary and final reports in line with ICAO Annex 13.
For now, no injuries have been reported, and all passengers have been accounted for.
With Runway 08 blocked, flight operations at Aka n u Ibiam International Airport were disrupted until the aircraft could be towed clear. FAAN said it would continue to coordinate with Enugu Air and relevant agencies to restore normal operations and to investigate the mechanical issue.
Enugu Air is expected to work with maintenance teams and regulators to determine whether the fault was technical, operational, or related to runway conditions. The outcome of that review will inform any corrective actions for the young airline.For passengers on board flight 5N-BZN, the evening ended with relief rather than tragedy. For Enugu Air, the incident will serve as an early test of its safety management and emergency response systems just months into commercial operations.
Aviation analysts note that mechanical faults can occur in any fleet, but how airlines and airports manage them determines public confidence. With no casualties recorded and evacuation completed in under 40 minutes, authorities pointed to the effectiveness of existing safety procedures at Enugu.
FAAN reiterated its commitment to safety, saying: “FAAN’s immediate priority is the safety of passengers, crew and airport users. FAAN will continue to secure the site and support the aircraft operator and investigators.”
