By Dickson Omobola
Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA, Wednesday, grounded an aircraft that landed on a roadway in the Ogwashi-Uku area near Asaba, the Delta State capital.
NCAA stated that the private jet, which had four crew members on board, subsequently departed the location at approximately 11:02 am and returned to Lagos without obtaining the requisite regulatory approval.
Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection at the NCAA, Michael Achimugu, in a statement, said the action contravened the Nigeria Civil Aviation Regulations, Nig. CARs, and was currently under investigation.
Achimugu also disclosed that the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau, NSIB, had been formally notified of the incident.
The statement reads: “NCAA has received preliminary reports concerning an occurrence involving a privately operated aircraft in the vicinity of Asaba, Delta State, on Wednesday, June 10, 2026.
“Available information indicates that the aircraft conducted a missed approach at approximately 07:43 local time while attempting to land at Asaba. Subsequently, the aircraft reportedly landed on a roadway in the Ogwashi-Uku area near Asaba. Reports received from personnel at the scene indicate that all occupants safely exited the aircraft and were transported to Asaba by road.
“The aircraft had four crew members on board. At this time, no injuries to passengers or crew have been reported. Preliminary information available to the authority indicates that the aircraft subsequently departed the location at approximately 11:02 GMT and returned to Lagos without obtaining the requisite regulatory approval. The authority has also been informed that Air Traffic Control was notified only after the aircraft had become airborne.
“This action constitutes a violation of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Regulations (Nig. CARs) and is currently under investigation by the authority. Upon its arrival in Lagos, the NCAA immediately grounded the aircraft pending the outcome of its investigation.
“The flight crew have been placed under regulatory review while the NCAA conducts further inquiries into the circumstances surrounding the occurrence and the subsequent unauthorized departure of the aircraft.
“The NCAA has formally notified the NSIB of the occurrence and is coordinating with relevant aviation stakeholders, including the operator and the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency to establish the full circumstances surrounding the incident.
“In the interim, the NCAA has suspended the operator’s permit for Non-Commercial flight, PNCF. The authority will review all operational, airworthiness, maintenance, and flight-related records as part of its statutory responsibilities and will take further enforcement action in accordance with applicable aviation regulations.”
