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 that forced the aircraft to land on a roadway near Asaba, Delta State, before it later flew to Lagos without obtaining regulatory approval.
The Authority disclosed in a preliminary report issued on Wednesday that the occurrence took place in the vicinity of Asaba on June 10, 2026.
According to the NCAA, the aircraft was attempting to land at Asaba Airport when it executed a missed approach at about 7:43 a.m. local time. The aircraft subsequently landed on a road in the Ogwashi-Uku area near the Delta State capital.
Personnel at the scene reported that all occupants exited the aircraft safely and were transported by road to Asaba. The aircraft had four crew members on board, and no injuries were recorded.
However, the incident took a new turn when preliminary findings indicated that the aircraft later departed the location at about 11:02 GMT and flew to Lagos without obtaining the necessary authorisation from the aviation regulator.
The NCAA stated that Air Traffic Control was only informed after the aircraft had already become airborne, describing the development as a clear breach of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Regulations (Nig. CARs).
In response, the Authority said it immediately grounded the aircraft upon its arrival in Lagos and commenced an investigation into both the emergency occurrence and the unauthorised departure.
The regulator also placed the flight crew under review pending the outcome of ongoing inquiries.
As part of measures to determine the full circumstances surrounding the incident, the NCAA said it had notified the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) and was collaborating with the operator and the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), alongside other stakeholders in the aviation industry.
Pending the outcome of the investigation, the Authority announced the suspension of the operator’s Permit for Non-Commercial Flight.
It further stated that investigators would scrutinise all operational, maintenance, airworthiness and flight records associated with the aircraft and operator, stressing that additional enforcement measures would be taken where necessary in accordance with established aviation regulations.
The NCAA emphasised that safety and regulatory compliance remain central to its mandate and reiterated its commitment to maintaining the highest standards within the nation’s aviation sector.
The statement announcing the preliminary findings was signed by the Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Michael Achimugu, who noted that investigations into the incident were continuing.
The latest development has once again highlighted the strict oversight role of the NCAA and the importance of adherence to aviation procedures designed to ensure the safety of air travel in Nigeria.
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