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NCAA suspends operator’s permit after aircraft lands on roadway near Asaba
The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has ordered the grounding of a privately operated aircraft, and suspended the operator’s Permit for Non-Commercial Flight (PNCF) after it landed on a roadway near Asaba, before departing the area without regulatory clearance.
The incident occurred on Wednesday morning in the Ogwashi-Uku area, close to Asaba Airport.
In a statement by its director of public affairs and consumer protection, Michael Achimugu, the aviation industry regulator said preliminary information showed the aircraft encountered difficulties during an attempt to land at Asaba Airport, and subsequently executed a missed approach.
“Reports from officials at the scene indicate that all occupants exited the aircraft safely and were conveyed to Asaba by road,” Mr Achimugu said.
According to the NCAA, the aircraft had four crew members on board at the time of the incident.
The regulator, however, expressed concern that the aircraft later took off from the location and returned to Lagos, without securing the required approval from aviation authorities.
Traffic control officials were informed only after the aircraft had already departed, the authority noted, an action it described as a breach of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Regulations.
The NCAA has directed that the aircraft be grounded immediately on its arrival in Lagos, and has placed the flight crew under regulatory review pending the outcome of ongoing investigations.
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It disclosed that the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau has been notified of the development, adding that it is teaming up with relevant stakeholders, including the aircraft operator and the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), to ascertain the circumstances surrounding both the landing and the subsequent departure.
The investigation will examine the aircraft’s operational records, airworthiness status, maintenance history and other flight-related documentation, with the possibility of taking additional enforcement measures in the event that violations of aviation rules are established.
The incident comes amid increased regulatory scrutiny in the Nigerian aviation sector, where authorities have repeatedly emphasised the need for strict compliance with safety procedures and operational regulations.
The NCAA said it remains committed to ensuring the highest standards of safety, security and regulatory compliance within the industry.
An Enugu Air aircraft on Thursday suffered a runway excursion after landing at Benin Airport, with all 63 passengers and five crew members safely evacuated and no injuries or fatalities recorded.
The airline confirmed the incident in a public notice, saying the aircraft had been secured while the relevant aviation authorities had been notified in line with established procedures.
“Enugu Air wishes to inform the public that one of our aircraft operating into Benin experienced a runway incursion after landing today,” the airline said.
It added, however, that all those on board were safe.
“We confirm that all passengers and crew have safely disembarked and there were no injuries or casualties.”
Although the airline described the occurrence as a runway incursion in its statement, the incident involved the aircraft leaving the runway after landing, which is referred to in aviation as a runway excursion.
A video posted on Thursday evening by the presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), Omoyele Sowore, on his official X account showed the Embraer 170 aircraft off the runway in a grassy area, with emergency responders at the scene while passengers disembarked. Mr Sowore, who shared the footage, said he hoped no one was injured and urged the authorities to treat aviation safety and regulatory compliance with “the utmost seriousness.”
My heart goes out to everyone involved in the incident involving the @EnuguAirlines aircraft at Benin Airport. I hope no one was injured and that all passengers and crew are safe.
The authorities must treat aviation safety and regulatory compliance with the utmost seriousness.… pic.twitter.com/smjoKGlCnB— Omoyele Sowore (@sowore) July 23, 2026
The airline said an assessment of the aircraft and the circumstances surrounding the occurrence was underway.
It also warned that the incident could lead to temporary adjustments to some of its scheduled flights.
“As a result, there may be temporary adjustments to some flight schedules. Passengers affected by any changes will be contacted directly and provided with the necessary assistance,” the airline said.
Reassuring passengers, the carrier said safety remains its highest priority.
“The safety of our passengers, crew, and operations remains our highest priority. We appreciate your understanding and will continue to provide updates through our official communication channels,” it added.
The incident is expected to be investigated by the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB), while the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) will also carry out its regulatory oversight to determine the circumstances surrounding the occurrence.
A runway excursion occurs when an aircraft unintentionally leaves the runway surface during take-off or landing. It is among the most common categories of aviation occurrences worldwide and may result from several factors, including adverse weather, bad runway conditions, technical faults or operational issues.
The latest occurrence comes as Nigeria’s aviation authorities continue efforts to strengthen safety oversight and improve operational standards across the country’s airports.
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