The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has grounded a privately operated aircraft and suspended the operator’s Permit for Non-Commercial Flight (PNCF) following an emergency landing near Asaba, Delta State, and its subsequent unauthorized departure to Lagos.
This was contained in a statement signed on Wednesday by the NCAA’s Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Michael Achimugu.
The aviation regulator said the aircraft, which reportedly landed on a roadway in the Ogwashi-Uku area after aborting an approach into Asaba Airport, later took off and returned to Lagos without obtaining the required regulatory approval.
NCAA said preliminary reports indicated that the aircraft conducted a missed approach at about 7:43 a.m. local time while attempting to land in Asaba before making an emergency landing off-airport.
“Reports received from personnel at the scene indicate that all occupants safely exited the aircraft and were transported to Asaba by road,” the statement said.
The authority confirmed that the aircraft had four crew members on board and that no injuries were reported.
However, the NCAA expressed concern that the aircraft later departed the location at approximately 11:02 GMT and flew to Lagos without prior regulatory clearance.
“Preliminary information available to the Authority indicates that the aircraft subsequently departed the location and returned to Lagos without obtaining the requisite regulatory approval.
The Authority has also been informed that Air Traffic Control was notified only after the aircraft had become airborne,” Achimugu stated.
The NCAA described the action as a violation of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Regulations (Nig. CARs), adding that a full investigation had been launched into the circumstances surrounding both the emergency landing and the unauthorized flight.
Upon the aircraft’s arrival in Lagos, the authority immediately grounded it pending the outcome of its investigation.
“The flight crew have been placed under regulatory review while the NCAA conducts further inquiries into the circumstances surrounding the occurrence and the subsequent unauthorized departure of the aircraft,” the statement added.
As part of its enforcement measures, the NCAA announced the suspension of the operator’s permit and said it would conduct a comprehensive review of all operational, maintenance, airworthiness and flight-related records.
The authority also confirmed that it had notified the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) and was working with the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) and other stakeholders to determine the full facts surrounding the incident.
“The NCAA remains committed to maintaining the highest standards of aviation safety, security and regulatory compliance within the Nigerian aviation sector,” the statement said.
