The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA, has sanctioned the flight crew involved in the recent Asaba Airport incident, suspending the pilots from operating in Nigerian airspace pending the outcome of ongoing investigations.
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The Director-General of the NCAA, Capt. Chris Najomo, disclosed this on the sidelines of the Airport Business Summit in Lagos.
Najomo confirmed that the aircraft involved in the incident had also been grounded, while its Permit to Fly had been suspended.
The development follows the controversial landing of a chartered jet on a road under construction near the Asaba Airport in Delta State last month, an incident that triggered serious concern within the aviation industry and renewed scrutiny of private aircraft operations in Nigeria.
The aircraft had reportedly attempted to land at Asaba Airport before ending up on a roadway in the Ogwashi-Uku area near Asaba. TNL had earlier reported that the NCAA grounded the aircraft after the incident and suspended the operator’s permit pending investigations.
The Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau, NSIB, subsequently commenced a safety investigation into the incident and later released a preliminary report indicating conflicting accounts from the pilots aboard the Bombardier Challenger 601-3A aircraft operated by VMO Aero.
According to Najomo, although the NSIB handled the initial safety investigation, the regulatory aspect of the case has now been transferred to the NCAA, which has commenced its own independent inquiry.
He further disclosed that the Department of State Services, of the case has now been transferred to the NCAA, which has commenced its own independent inquiry.
He DSS, had joined the ongoing investigation.
Najomo, who said he has over 45 years of flying experience, described the incident as highly unusual and questioned how an aircraft could mistake a road for a runway.
“The investigation is still ongoing. The NSIB has handed the investigation to us, the NCAA, and we are conducting our own inquiry. As we speak, the aircraft has been grounded, the Permit to Fly has been suspended, and the pilots have also been suspended pending the outcome of our investigation. As a pilot with 45 years of experience, I will not see a road and land on it.
“We are also looking at other possible motives. The DSS has become involved and is carrying out its own investigation too. Until the report is released, that remains the position,” Najomo said.
The NCAA boss said the agency would not limit its inquiry to the landing alone, but would examine all relevant circumstances surrounding the incident, including possible motives and regulatory breaches.
The incident had earlier raised questions after the aircraft reportedly departed the location and returned to Lagos without obtaining the required regulatory approval. The NCAA had said at ft’s action amounted to a violation of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Regulations.
Speaking further at the Airport Business Summit, Najomo described the event as an important platform for stakeholders to deliberate on critical issues affecting the aviation industry.
He assured operators that the NCAA would carefully examine complaints of monopoly and anti-competitive practices in the sector.
According to him, the regulator remains committed to ensuring fair competition, protecting passengers and keeping operators commercially viable.
“We will carefully look into complaints relating to monopoly and anti-competitive practices. Our responsibility is to ensure fair competition, keep airlines commercially viable, protect passengers’ interests and ensure that charges within the industry remain reasonable,” he said.
The latest NCAA action marks a new phase in the Asaba incident investigation, moving the matter beyond preliminary safety findings to possible regulatory sanctions against the crew and operator
The aircraft and pilots will remain grounded pending the conclusion of the NCAA’s investigation.
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