The aviation regulator described the aircraft’s departure from the Ogwashi-Uku area near Asaba as a violation of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Regulations, announcing a full-scale investigation into the incident.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, NCAA Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Michael Achimugu, said preliminary reports indicated that the aircraft aborted its landing at Asaba Airport at about 7:43 a.m. before reportedly touching down on a roadway in the Ogwashi-Uku axis.
According to the authority, all occupants safely exited the aircraft and were transported to Asaba by road. No injuries were reported among the four crew members on board.
However, the incident took a dramatic turn when the aircraft reportedly departed the location at about 11:02 a.m. and flew back to Lagos without obtaining the mandatory regulatory clearance.
The NCAA said Air Traffic Control was only informed after the aircraft had already become airborne, a development it described as a serious breach of aviation regulations.
“Upon its arrival in Lagos, the NCAA immediately grounded the aircraft pending the outcome of its investigation,” Achimugu stated.
The authority further disclosed that the flight crew had been placed under regulatory review, while all operational, maintenance, airworthiness and flight records relating to the aircraft would be scrutinised.
In addition, the NCAA announced the suspension of the operator’s Permit for Non-Commercial Flight (PNCF), pending the conclusion of investigations.
The Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) has also been formally notified and is expected to work with the NCAA, the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), and the aircraft operator to establish the full circumstances surrounding the occurrence.
The incident has sparked fresh concerns within aviation circles, with industry stakeholders awaiting the outcome of investigations that could determine whether further sanctions or enforcement actions will be taken against the operator and crew.
For now, the aircraft remains grounded, while regulators intensify efforts to unravel the circumstances behind one of the most unusual aviation incidents recorded in recent times.
