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🇳🇬 Nigeria /Crime & Justice

Unauthorised escape flight from Asaba triggers security fears

From The Punch · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Under investigation
  • A privately operated aircraft landed on a roadway near Asaba, Delta State, and later departed for Lagos without regulatory approval, raising security concerns.
  • The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has suspended the operator's permit for non-commercial flights and grounded the aircraft pending investigation.
  • The NCAA stated that air traffic control was notified only after the aircraft took off, a violation of regulations, and that the flight crew is under review.

Security concerns have surfaced in Nigeria's aviation sector following an incident where a privately operated aircraft landed on a roadway near Asaba, Delta State, and subsequently flew to Lagos without obtaining necessary regulatory approval.

Available information indicates that the aircraft conducted a missed approach at approximately 0743 local time while attempting to land at Asaba. Subsequently, the aircraft reportedly landed on a roadway in the Ogwashi-Uku area near Asaba.

— Nigeria Civil Aviation AuthorityThe NCAA described the initial events leading to the aircraft landing on a roadway.

The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) confirmed the event and announced it has suspended the operator's permit for non-commercial flights. The aircraft has also been grounded as the authority conducts a full investigation. According to the NCAA, the aircraft experienced difficulties during its landing attempt at Asaba Airport on Tuesday morning, forcing it to execute a missed approach before touching down on a roadway in the Ogwashi-Uku area.

The aircraft had four crew members on board. At this time, no injuries to passengers or crew have been reported.

— Nigeria Civil Aviation AuthorityThe authority confirmed the status of the crew members.

All four crew members on board safely exited the aircraft and were transported to Asaba by road, with no injuries reported. The primary security concern arises from the aircraft's subsequent departure from the roadway at approximately 1102 GMT and its return to Lagos without clearance from aviation authorities. The NCAA noted that Air Traffic Control was informed only after the aircraft had already become airborne, which constitutes a violation of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Regulations.

Preliminary information available to the authority indicates that the aircraft subsequently departed the location at approximately 1102 GMT and returned to Lagos without obtaining the requisite regulatory approval.

— Nigeria Civil Aviation AuthorityThe NCAA detailed the unauthorized departure and return flight.

Upon the aircraft's arrival in Lagos, the NCAA immediately grounded it and placed the flight crew under regulatory review. The authority is collaborating with the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau and the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency to ascertain the full circumstances surrounding the incident and the unauthorized departure.

The authority has also been informed that Air Traffic Control was notified only after the aircraft had become airborne. This action constitutes a violation of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Regulations and is currently under investigation by the Authority.

— Nigeria Civil Aviation AuthorityThe NCAA highlighted the violation of regulations regarding air traffic control notification.
DistantNews Editorial

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

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