Asaba, Delta State — The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has taken decisive action by grounding a private aircraft and suspending its operator’s permit after a dramatic emergency landing on a Delta State highway was followed by an unauthorized takeoff back to Lagos. This incident, which occurred on Wednesday morning, has prompted an aggressive federal investigation.
The aircraft involved in the incident is a 1988 Canadair CL-600 private jet, which was operating under a Permit for Non-Commercial Flight (PNCF). The flight had originated from Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos and was en route to Asaba International Airport in Delta State, carrying several passengers and four crew members.
At approximately 7:43 a.m. local time, the aircraft executed a “missed approach” due to technical difficulties and was forced to perform an emergency landing directly onto the Ogwashi-Uku-Asaba Expressway, utilizing a wide section of the highway currently under construction. Fortunately, the landing was executed successfully, with all passengers and crew members evacuating the aircraft unharmed. There were no fatalities or injuries reported on the ground, and the passengers were later transported safely to their destination in Asaba by road.
However, the situation took a controversial turn when the flight crew, without obtaining mandatory structural inspections or airworthiness clearance, taxied the aircraft back onto the expressway and took off without permission from Air Traffic Control (ATC). Reports indicate that ATC was only informed of the departure after the private jet had already become airborne, returning to Lagos.
This unauthorized takeoff has drawn swift condemnation from federal authorities, leading to a full-scale investigation by Aviation Minister Festus Keyamo and the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB). Upon landing back in Lagos, the aircraft was immediately impounded by regulators, and the NCAA has suspended the operator’s PNCF indefinitely, citing a catastrophic breach of aviation safety laws that endangered both the aircraft and public safety.
As the investigation unfolds, the NCAA is expected to provide further updates on the regulatory actions taken in response to this alarming incident, emphasizing the importance of adhering to aviation safety protocols to prevent such breaches in the future.
WATCH VIDEO OF THE INCIDENT HERE
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