NSIB FLAGS BUILDING BLOCKING BENIN AIRPORT CONTROL TOWER VIEW

The Nigeria Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) has raised safety concerns over an uncompleted building obstructing the control tower’s line of sight at Oba Akenzua II Airport, Benin, following the July runway overrun involving an Enugu Air aircraft.

The building, located beyond the end of Runway 05 near the Runway 23 threshold, reportedly blocks air traffic controllers from having an unrestricted view of part of the aerodrome.

The NSIB said the issue was among several safety concerns identified in its preliminary investigation into the incident, which involved an Enugu Air Embraer ERJ 170-100LR aircraft carrying 68 people. All occupants were evacuated safely without injury.

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 include improving the control tower’s visibility, removing fixed structures associated with a decommissioned localiser installation, and restoring weather information equipment at the airport.

NSIB also identified other concerns, including deteriorating weather conditions and gaps in the transmission of runway-condition information to the flight crew.

The bureau stressed that the preliminary findings are subject to further investigation and should not be interpreted as assigning blame or liability.