As part of its commitment to professionalism and strict adherence to safety protocols, the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) Directorate of Airworthiness has ordered the grounding of 5N-BZY pending the outcome of thorough investigations.
The NCAA reaffirmed its commitment to safety, stating that Nigeria’s aviation protocols remain stringent, often leading to flight cancellations at the slightest concern.
‘’Our records show a prioritization of safety over convenience—something not always observed, even in more developed countries,” an NCAA official stated.
The Rano Air aircraft, with registration number 5N-BZY, had experienced an engine failure mid-flight on Sunday, prompting emergency procedures and an eventual safe landing in Sokoto.
Smoke was reported in both the cabin and flightdeck, leading to the donning of oxygen masks by crew and passengers.
Ground safety protocols were swiftly initiated, and the smoke later dissipated following a swift and composed response of the flight crew, the aircraft landed without incident.
A rescue aircraft, which was scheduled to airlift the Sokoto passengers, had already boarded passengers from an earlier Abuja-Katsina route. Deboarding them would have posed logistical complications, resulting in the cancellation of the Sokoto flight.
