The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has ordered the grounding of a privately operated aircraft and suspended the operator’s Permit for Non-Commercial Flight (PNCF) after it landed on a roadway near Asaba before departing the area without regulatory clearance.
Incident Details
The incident occurred on Wednesday morning in the Ogwashi-Uku area, close to Asaba Airport. According to a statement by Michael Achimugu, the NCAA’s director of public affairs and consumer protection, preliminary information indicates the aircraft encountered difficulties during an attempt to land at Asaba Airport and subsequently executed a missed approach. “Reports from officials at the scene indicate that all occupants exited the aircraft safely and were conveyed to Asaba by road,” Mr Achimugu said.
Regulatory Breach
The aircraft had four crew members on board at the time of the incident. The regulator expressed concern that the aircraft later took off from the location and returned to Lagos without securing the required approval from aviation authorities. Traffic control officials were informed only after the aircraft had already departed, an action described as a breach of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Regulations.
Enforcement Measures
The NCAA has directed that the aircraft be grounded immediately upon its arrival in Lagos and has placed the flight crew under regulatory review pending the outcome of ongoing investigations. The Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau has been notified, and the NCAA is teaming up with relevant stakeholders, including the aircraft operator and the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), to ascertain the circumstances surrounding both the landing and the subsequent departure.
Investigation Scope
The investigation will examine the aircraft’s operational records, airworthiness status, maintenance history, and other flight-related documentation. Additional enforcement measures may be taken if violations of aviation rules are established. This incident comes amid increased regulatory scrutiny in the Nigerian aviation sector, where authorities have repeatedly emphasized strict compliance with safety procedures and operational regulations. The NCAA remains committed to ensuring the highest standards of safety, security, and regulatory compliance within the industry.
