The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has grounded a privately operated aircraft and suspended the operator’s Permit for Non-Commercial Flight (PNCF) following an incident near Asaba and the aircraft’s subsequent unauthorized return to Lagos.
In a statement issued by the Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Michael Achimugu, the NCAA said the aircraft conducted a missed approach while attempting to land at Asaba Airport at approximately 7:43 a.m. local time on June 10, 2026.
According to the Authority, the aircraft subsequently landed on a roadway in the Ogwashi-Uku area near Asaba. Initial reports from personnel at the scene indicated that all occupants safely evacuated the aircraft and were transported by road to Asaba. The aircraft had four crew members on board, and no injuries were reported.
The NCAA, however, expressed concern that the aircraft later departed the location and flew back to Lagos without obtaining the necessary regulatory clearance.
“Preliminary information available to the Authority indicates that the aircraft subsequently departed the location at approximately 1102 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,” the statement said.
The regulator described the action as a violation of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Regulations and confirmed that a full investigation has been launched into the circumstances surrounding both the occurrence and the unauthorized departure.
Following the aircraft’s arrival in Lagos, the NCAA immediately grounded it and placed the flight crew under regulatory review pending the outcome of the investigation.
The Authority also disclosed that it has formally notified the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) and is working with relevant stakeholders, including the aircraft operator and the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), to establish the facts surrounding the incident.
As part of its enforcement process, the NCAA has suspended the operator’s PNCF and commenced a comprehensive review of the aircraft’s operational, airworthiness, maintenance and flight records.
The Authority stated that further regulatory action would be taken in line with applicable aviation laws and safety regulations once investigations are concluded.
