The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has suspended the operational permit of an airline operator following an incident in which an aircraft reportedly landed on a roadway near Asaba, Delta State, before departing the scene without regulatory approval.
The development was confirmed in a statement issued on Wednesday by the Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Michael Achimugu, who said the Authority received preliminary reports involving a privately operated aircraft in the Asaba area.
Although the regulator did not disclose the identity of the operator or airline involved, it said the incident began when the aircraft experienced difficulties while attempting to land at Asaba Airport.
According to the NCAA, the aircraft executed a missed approach at about 0743 local time before subsequently landing on a roadway in the Ogwashi-Uku area near Asaba, an occurrence the Authority described as highly irregular.
“Subsequently, the aircraft reportedly landed on a roadway in the Ogwashi-Uku area near Asaba,” the statement said.
Reports from the scene indicated that all four crew members on board safely exited the aircraft and were transported by road to Asaba. No injuries were recorded.
“The aircraft had four (4) crew members on board. At this time, no injuries to passengers or crew have been reported,” the NCAA stated.
The Authority further disclosed that the aircraft later departed the location at about 1102 GMT and returned to Lagos without obtaining the necessary regulatory clearance.
It added that Air Traffic Control was only informed after the aircraft had already taken off, describing the action as a breach of Nigeria Civil Aviation Regulations (Nig. CARs).
“The Authority has also been informed that Air Traffic Control was notified only after the aircraft had become airborne,” the statement noted.
The NCAA said the unauthorised departure is now under investigation and has led to immediate enforcement action.
Upon arrival in Lagos, the aircraft was grounded pending investigation, while the flight crew were placed under regulatory review as authorities examine the circumstances surrounding the incident.
“In the interim, the NCAA has suspended the operator’s permit for Non-Commercial Flight,” the Authority said.
The regulator also confirmed that the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) had been notified and is working alongside the NCAA, the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), and the operator to establish the full facts of the case.
“The NCAA has formally notified the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau of the occurrence and is coordinating with relevant aviation stakeholders… to establish the full circumstances surrounding the incident,” it said.
Authorities said all operational, airworthiness, maintenance, and flight records linked to the aircraft will be reviewed as part of the investigation.
The NCAA reiterated that further enforcement actions will be taken in accordance with aviation safety regulations once the investigation is concluded, stressing its commitment to maintaining strict compliance standards within Nigeria’s airspace.
