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🇳🇬 Nigeria /Disasters & Emergencies

NCAA: Why 75-year-old Pilot, 70-year-old Co-pilot Flew Aircraft that Landed on Delta Road

From ThisDay · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Under investigation
  • The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) stated that the pilots of an aircraft that landed on a road in Delta State were 75 and 70 years old.
  • The pilots operated under U.S. regulations, which do not consider them overaged, and held American licenses.
  • Nigeria's age limit for commercial pilots is 65, but regulations are under review, and the pilot's decision to take off from the road was unauthorized.

The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has revealed that the pilot and co-pilot of a private aircraft that landed on a road in Delta State were 75 and 70 years old, respectively. According to Capt. Don Spiff, Director of Operations, Licensing and Training at the NCAA, both pilots held American licenses and operated under U.S. aviation regulations, which did not deem them overaged. The aircraft itself was also American-registered.

Before I say anything, I must remind you that investigations have already started on this incident. So, I must not preempt anything.

— Capt. Don SpiffNCAA Director of Operations, Licensing and Training on the ongoing investigation.

Spiff explained that while Nigeria's current age limit for commercial pilots is 65, the country's regulations are under review. He noted that a proposed amendment to the Civil Aviation Act would allow Nigerian pilots over 65 to fly privately, provided they pass a first-class medical check-up. However, he emphasized that these pilots were not flying with Nigerian licenses.

The pilots who flew that airplane have American licences. The pilot is 75. The co-pilot is 70. The pilot is not over-aged in America.

— Capt. Don SpiffExplaining the pilots' age and licensing in relation to U.S. regulations.

The NCAA official also criticized the pilot's decision to take off from the road after the incident, deeming the action unauthorized. Investigations into the incident are ongoing, led by the Nigerian Safety Investigation Board (NSIB). Depending on their findings, the case may be handed over to the NCAA. The operator of the aircraft has been identified as VMO Aero, a Nigerian company, but the investigation will also look into the aircraft's ownership.

In Nigeria, it is 65. Once you are 65, you stop flying commercials. But we are also reviewing our regulations.

— Capt. Don SpiffComparing Nigerian age limits for pilots with international standards and ongoing reviews.

The aircraft had a filed flight plan from Lagos to Asaba. The NCAA is working to uncover the full details of the incident, including the ownership of the aircraft and the precise circumstances that led to the emergency landing on a public road. The authority stressed the importance of adhering to all aviation regulations to ensure safety.

But these guys are not flying with Nigerian licenses.

— Capt. Don SpiffClarifying the licensing status of the pilots involved.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by ThisDay. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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