Keyamo orders probe, grounds aircraft after unauthorized landing near Asaba
Festus Keyamo
The Federal Government has grounded a private aircraft and suspended the operating permit of its owner following an incident in which the aircraft made an emergency landing on a road under construction near Asaba and later departed without obtaining the necessary regulatory approval.
The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, announced the action in a statement shared on his X handle, describing the occurrence as a significant violation of aviation safety regulations and established security procedures.
According to the minister, the aircraft was unable to complete its landing at Asaba Airport after carrying out a missed approach at approximately 7:43 a.m. local time. It subsequently diverted and landed on a concrete roadway under construction in the Ogwashi-Uku area of Delta State.
Keyamo stated that reports from the scene indicated that all four crew members aboard the aircraft safely disembarked and were transported by road to Asaba without sustaining any injuries.
However, the minister expressed concern that the aircraft later departed from the location at about 11:02 GMT without securing the required clearance from aviation authorities.
He noted that Air Traffic Control was informed only after the aircraft had already taken off, stressing that no authorization had been granted for its departure.
“This means the aircraft took off without the necessary clearance,” the minister stated.
Following the incident, the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) immediately grounded the aircraft upon its arrival in Lagos pending the outcome of an ongoing investigation.
Keyamo disclosed that the NCAA has commenced a regulatory review to determine the circumstances surrounding both the emergency landing and the unauthorized takeoff.
He added that the authority is collaborating with relevant stakeholders, including the aircraft operator and the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency, to establish the full facts of the incident.
As part of its enforcement measures, the NCAA suspended the operator’s Permit for Non-Commercial Flight (PNCF) and directed a comprehensive audit covering its operations, maintenance procedures, airworthiness status, and flight documentation.
“The NCAA will implement further sanctions where necessary in line with existing aviation regulations,” the minister said.
He also confirmed that security agencies have taken the crew members into custody for questioning as investigations continue.
Authorities maintain that the incident will be thoroughly examined to strengthen aviation safety standards and prevent similar breaches in the future.