NCAA Grounds Aircraft, Suspends Operator’s Permit Over Unauthorized Departure After Emergency Landing in Asaba
Oru Leonard
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 the aircraft’s subsequent unauthorized departure from the incident site.
In a preliminary report issued on Wednesday, the NCAA disclosed that the aircraft experienced an occurrence while attempting to land at Asaba Airport at approximately 7:43 a.m. local time. According to available information, the aircraft conducted a missed approach before reportedly landing on a roadway in the Ogwashi-Uku area near Asaba.
The Authority said all four crew members aboard the aircraft safely evacuated and were transported by road to Asaba. No injuries to crew members or passengers were reported.
However, the incident took a more serious regulatory dimension when the aircraft allegedly departed the location and returned to Lagos without obtaining the necessary approval from aviation authorities. Preliminary findings indicate that Air Traffic Control was only informed after the aircraft had already become airborne.
The NCAA described the action as a violation of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Regulations (Nig. CARs) and confirmed that a full investigation has been launched.
“Upon its arrival in Lagos, the NCAA immediately grounded the aircraft pending the outcome of its investigation,” the Authority stated.
In addition, the flight crew involved have been placed under regulatory review as investigators seek to determine the circumstances surrounding both the emergency landing and the unauthorized departure.
The NCAA has also notified the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) and is working closely with relevant stakeholders, including the aircraft operator and the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), to establish the full facts of the incident.
As part of its regulatory response, the Authority announced the interim suspension of the operator’s PNCF and said it would conduct a comprehensive review of all operational, maintenance, airworthiness and flight records linked to the aircraft.
The NCAA emphasized that further enforcement measures would be taken where necessary in line with applicable aviation regulations
Reaffirming its commitment to aviation safety, security and regulatory compliance, the Authority assured the public that it would continue to uphold the highest standards within Nigeria’s aviation sector while investigations remain ongoing.
The statement was signed by Michael Achimugu, Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection at the NCAA.
