The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has halted the operations of a private plane and revoked the operator's Permit for Non-Commercial Flight (PNCF) after the aircraft had to make an urgent touchdown on a road in Ogwashi-Uku, close to Asaba, in Delta State.
A initial statement released on Wednesday mentioned by the NCAA's Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Michael Achimugu, noted that the plane faced challenges during its attempt to land at Asaba Airport and performed a go-around around 7:43 a.m. local time.
As per the NCAA, the plane later touched down on a street within the Ogwashi-Uku region. Officials present at the location stated that all four staff members aboard successfully exited the airplane and were taken by land to Asaba.
"Information obtained from staff present at the location suggests that all passengers left the plane securely and were taken to Asaba via land," said the Authority.
The authority verified that none of the personnel involved have suffered any harm.
Nevertheless, the situation changed when the plane allegedly left the site and returned to Lagos without securing the required official permission.
"The Authority has preliminary information suggesting that the plane left the site around 1102 GMT and went back to Lagos without getting the necessary permission," stated the NCAA.
The authorities also stated that Air Traffic Control was informed solely after the plane had already taken off.
"The Authority has also been made aware that Air Traffic Control was alerted only after the plane had taken off," the statement further noted.
Calling the action an infringement of aviation rules, the NCAA stated that the unapproved takeoff violates the Nigeria Civil Aviation Regulations (Nig. CARs) and is now being probed.
Consequently, the plane was promptly taken out of service after arriving in Lagos, with the flight personnel undergoing regulatory scrutiny until the findings from current inquiries are finalized.
"Once it arrived in Lagos, the NCAA promptly halted the plane’s operations until the findings of the inquiry were available," the Authority said.
Furthermore, the NCAA has temporarily revoked the operator's Permit for Non-Commercial Flight (PNCF) during the ongoing investigation.
The official body stated that it has officially informed the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) and is working together with the airline operator, the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), and other pertinent parties to determine all the details of the event.
"The NCAA has officially informed the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) about the event and is working alongside key aviation partners, such as the operator and the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency, to determine all details related to the situation," the statement said.
The authority stated that it will examine all operation, upkeep, airworthiness, and flying-related documents as part of its legal duties and will implement additional regulatory measures when required.
Restating its dedication to safety regulation, the NCAA emphasized that it continues to be committed to upholding the top levels of air safety, protection, and adherence to rules in Nigeria's airline industry.
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