The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has suspended the pilots involved in the recent road-landing incident near Asaba Airport and grounded the aircraft pending the outcome of ongoing investigations.
Director-General of the NCAA, Capt. Chris Najomo, disclosed the development on the sidelines of the Airport Business Summit in Lagos.
According to him, the aircraft’s Permit to Fly has also been suspended while the regulatory investigation continues.
The incident occurred last month when a chartered jet landed on a road under construction close to Asaba Airport in Delta State, prompting widespread concern within the aviation industry.
Najomo explained that while the Nigeria Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) initially launched a safety investigation into the incident, the regulatory aspect of the case has now been transferred to the NCAA.
He added that the Department of State Services (DSS) has also joined the investigation.
Describing the incident as highly unusual, the NCAA Director-General, who has over four decades of flying experience, said it was difficult to imagine how an aircraft could mistake a road for a runway.
“The investigation is still ongoing. The aircraft has been grounded, its Permit to Fly suspended, and the pilots have also been suspended pending the outcome of our investigation,” he said.
Najomo assured stakeholders that the NCAA would conduct a thorough investigation and determine the circumstances surrounding the incident before taking further regulatory action.
He also reaffirmed the Authority’s commitment to ensuring aviation safety and maintaining fair competition within the industry, adding that concerns over monopoly and anti-competitive practices would be addressed in line with the regulator’s mandate.
