By George Ozalla
The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has confirmed an incident involving an aircraft that made an emergency landing on a roadway near Asaba, Delta State, before subsequently departing the scene without prior regulatory clearance.
According to a statement issued by the Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Michael Achimugu, the aircraft was initially involved in a missed approach while attempting to land at Asaba Airport before it diverted and touched down on a road in the Ogwashi-Uku area near Asaba. The Authority noted that all four crew members on board safely exited the aircraft and were later transported by road to Asaba, with no injuries recorded.
The NCAA further stated that after the unexpected landing, the aircraft later departed the location at about 11:02 GMT and returned to Lagos without obtaining the required regulatory approval. It added that Air Traffic Control was only notified after the aircraft had become airborne, describing the action as a clear violation of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Regulations.
Following preliminary findings, the Authority said it immediately grounded the aircraft upon its arrival in Lagos and suspended the operator’s Permit for Non-Commercial Flight pending further investigation. It also confirmed that the matter has been escalated for regulatory review, with a full inquiry underway into the circumstances surrounding both the emergency landing and the unauthorized departure.
The NCAA added that it is working with relevant aviation stakeholders, including the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau, the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency, and the operator involved, to establish full details of the incident and ensure compliance with safety standards.
The Authority reiterated its commitment to maintaining strict aviation safety oversight across Nigeria’s airspace, stressing that further enforcement actions would be taken where necessary as investigations progress.
