The Embraer ERJ-170LR aircraft operated by Enugu Air has been declared a total loss following the damage it sustained during a runway excursion at Benin Airport on July 23.

Aircraft records from Planespotters.net show that the 17.6-year-old jet, registered as 5N-ENR with manufacturer serial number 17000274, has been classified as “written off”, meaning the aircraft is considered beyond economical repair and will not return to commercial operations.

The aircraft suffered major structural damage after it overshot the runway during landing in heavy rainfall. The impact reportedly caused both landing gears to push upward through the wings before separating from the fuselage, leaving the aircraft unfit for further service.

Despite the severity of the damage, all passengers and crew members evacuated safely. The aircraft was carrying 63 passengers and five crew members, with no injuries or fatalities recorded.
The aircraft, powered by two GE CF34-8E5 engines, was manufactured by Brazilian aircraft maker Embraer in São José dos Campos. It first entered service with Egyptair Express in March 2009 under the registration SU-GDH in a 76-seat all-economy configuration.

It was later transferred to Egyptair in November 2019 before being withdrawn from active service and stored in Cairo from 2020 to 2025.

In February 2025, the aircraft was registered in Nigeria as 5N-ENR and leased to XE Jet. It later joined Enugu Air’s operations while remaining under XE Jet’s management until March 2026.

The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) described the Benin Airport incident as a runway excursion rather than a crash, explaining that the aircraft had landed before leaving the runway due to adverse weather conditions.

Following the incident, Enugu Air adjusted some flight schedules while aviation authorities secured the aircraft and began assessments.

The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, directed relevant agencies to investigate the incident, while the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) opened a probe into the circumstances surrounding the runway excursion.

With the aircraft now classified as written off, the Embraer ERJ-170LR’s operational history has ended after more than 17 years of service.