JUST IN: NCAA suspends pilots, grounds jet involved in Asaba road-landing incident

The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has suspended the flight crew and grounded the aircraft involved in a recent incident at Asaba Airport where a chartered jet landed on a road under construction. The authority has also suspended the jet's permit to fly pending the outcome of ongoing investigations.

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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.

NCAA Director-General Capt. Chris Najomo disclosed these actions on the sidelines of the Airport Business Summit in Lagos. The incident, which occurred last month, sparked concern within the aviation industry, leading stakeholders to call for a thorough investigation into the circumstances. The Nigeria Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) initiated a safety investigation shortly after the event.

Najomo explained that while the NSIB conducted the initial safety probe, the regulatory aspect has been transferred to the NCAA, which has launched its independent investigation. The Department of State Services has also joined the probe, indicating the seriousness with which the incident is being treated. Najomo described the event as highly unusual, expressing disbelief that a pilot could mistake a road for a runway.

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As a pilot with 45 years of experience, I will not see a road and land on it.

"As a pilot with 45 years of experience, I will not see a road and land on it," Najomo stated, adding that the NCAA is exploring "other possible motives." He assured summit attendees that the NCAA remains committed to fostering fair competition within the aviation sector, addressing concerns over monopoly and anti-competitive practices, and protecting passenger interests.

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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.