The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, SAN, CON, FCIArb (UK), has ordered an immediate and comprehensive investigation into the incident involving a private aircraft that failed to land at Asaba Airport and subsequently touched down on an unfinished road near Ogwashi-Uku in Delta State.
The Minister also directed swift regulatory action following revelations that the aircraft later departed the scene and returned to Lagos without obtaining the required approvals, a development he described as a serious breach of aviation regulations and security protocols.
According to a statement issued on Wednesday by the Minister’s Special Adviser on Media and Communications, Tunde Moshood, the incident occurred at approximately 7:43 a.m. local time when the aircraft attempted to land at Asaba Airport but carried out a missed approach.
Preliminary findings indicated that the aircraft was unable to gain access to the airport runway and instead made a safe landing on a concrete road still under construction in the Ogwashi-Uku area, located near Asaba.
Despite the unusual circumstances surrounding the landing, all four crew members on board escaped unhurt. Eyewitnesses reportedly confirmed that the occupants safely exited the aircraft and were later transported by road to Asaba.
Keyamo expressed gratitude that the occurrence did not result in any casualties, but maintained that the circumstances surrounding the incident and the aircraft’s subsequent actions raised significant safety and security concerns.
According to the Minister, the aircraft later took off from the location at about 11:02 GMT and returned to Lagos without receiving the mandatory regulatory clearance.
He noted that Air Traffic Control authorities were only informed after the aircraft had already become airborne, suggesting that the flight had departed without proper operational authorisation.
Describing the development as unacceptable, the Minister said the Federal Government would not tolerate any attempt by operators to circumvent established aviation procedures.
Following the aircraft’s arrival in Lagos, the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) immediately grounded it pending the completion of investigations.
The authority has also initiated a full regulatory review into both the emergency landing and the unauthorised departure from the location where the aircraft had touched down.
In addition, the NCAA has suspended the operator’s Permit for Non-Commercial Flight (PNCF), effectively halting its operations until the investigation is concluded.
The regulatory agency is expected to conduct a detailed assessment of all documents and records associated with the aircraft and the operator, including operational procedures, maintenance logs, airworthiness documentation and flight records.
The statement noted that the NCAA would not hesitate to impose further sanctions should the findings warrant additional enforcement measures under the applicable civil aviation regulations.
To ensure a thorough inquiry, the NCAA is working closely with the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) and other relevant stakeholders, including the operator, in order to establish the precise circumstances surrounding the incident.
Meanwhile, Keyamo disclosed that he had been in contact with security agencies, which confirmed that the flight crew are currently in their custody and are cooperating fully with ongoing investigations.
Reaffirming the Federal Government’s commitment to aviation safety and regulatory compliance, the Minister stressed that no operator, regardless of status or influence, would be allowed to compromise the integrity of Nigeria’s airspace system.
“The safety of lives and the security of the nation’s airspace remain paramount,” the statement said, adding that all aviation procedures are designed to protect passengers, crew members and the general public.
Keyamo assured Nigerians that the investigation would be transparent and exhaustive and pledged that appropriate measures would be taken once the facts surrounding the incident had been fully established.
The incident has drawn widespread attention within the aviation sector, coming amid renewed efforts by the Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development and regulatory agencies to strengthen safety oversight and ensure strict compliance with established aviation standards across the country.
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