The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has grounded a privately operated aircraft and suspended its Non-Commercial Flight (PNCF) permit after an emergency landing near Asaba, Delta State, and a subsequent unauthorized departure to Lagos.
In a statement released yesterday, NCAA’s Director of Consumer Protection and Public Affairs, Michael Achimugu, revealed that preliminary reports indicate the aircraft executed a missed approach at approximately 7:43 a.m. local time while attempting to land at Asaba Airport. The aircraft then landed on a roadway in the Ogwashi-Uku area near Asaba. All four crew members exited safely without injuries and were transported to Asaba by road.
However, the NCAA stated that preliminary findings show the aircraft later departed the location at around 11:02 GMT and returned to Lagos without obtaining the required regulatory approval. The aircraft reportedly notified Air Traffic Control only after it was airborne, which the NCAA described as a violation of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Regulations (Nig. CARs).
Upon arrival in Lagos, the Authority immediately grounded the aircraft pending the outcome of an investigation. The flight crew has also been placed under regulatory review as the NCAA continues its inquiries into the circumstances surrounding both the emergency landing and the unauthorized departure.
The NCAA has formally notified the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) of the incident and is collaborating with relevant aviation stakeholders, including the operator and the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), to determine the full circumstances of the event.
