The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has ordered an immediate investigation into the incident involving a private aircraft, which made an emergency landing on a highway near Asaba, Delta State, on Wednesday.
This is as regulatory aviation authorities have grounded the aircraft and suspended the operator’s Permit for Non-Commercial Flight (PNCF) pending the outcome of the probe.
The directive followed reports that the aircraft, while attempting to land at Asaba Airport at about 7:43 a.m., conducted a missed approach and subsequently landed on a concrete road under construction in the Ogwashi-Uku area near Asaba.
According to preliminary information made available by the Ministry, the aircraft was unable to access the airport runway but landed safely on the unfinished road. All passengers on board reportedly disembarked safely and were transported by road to Asaba, with no injuries or fatalities recorded.
While expressing relief that no lives were lost, Keyamo described the incident and subsequent developments as a matter of serious regulatory and security concern.
“The Minister, while expressing gratitude that no lives were lost, described the incident and the events that followed as a matter of grave regulatory and security concern,” the ministry said in a statement issued by the Minister’s Special Adviser on Media and Communications, Tunde Moshood.
The situation escalated when the aircraft later departed the location and returned to Lagos without obtaining the required regulatory approval.
According to the statement, the aircraft took off from the site at about 11:02 GMT and flew to Lagos without the necessary operational clearance, while Air Traffic Control was only informed after the aircraft had become airborne.
“The Honourable Minister views this development as a serious breach of aviation regulations and security protocols,” the statement said.
Following the aircraft’s arrival in Lagos, the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) immediately grounded the aircraft and commenced a comprehensive regulatory review into both the landing incident and the subsequent unauthorized departure.
The aviation regulator was also working with relevant stakeholders, including the aircraft operator and the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), to establish the full circumstances surrounding the incident.
In addition to grounding the aircraft, the NCAA suspended the operator’s Permit for Non-Commercial Flight pending the outcome of investigations.
The Authority will also carry out an extensive review of the operator’s operational, airworthiness, maintenance and flight records and may impose further sanctions where necessary.
The Minister disclosed that he had been in contact with relevant security agencies and had received assurances that the flight crew were in custody and cooperating with investigators.
Reaffirming the government’s commitment to aviation safety and regulatory compliance, the ministry stated: “No individual or operator, irrespective of status, will be permitted to circumvent established aviation procedures designed to safeguard lives and maintain the integrity of Nigeria’s airspace system.”
Keyamo assured the public that a thorough and transparent investigation would be conducted and that all necessary actions would be taken based on the findings.
