KEY POINTS

• Keyamo grounded a private aircraft and suspended its operator’s permit after an unauthorized landing near Asaba.
• The plane landed on a road under construction in Ogwashi-Uku, then left without regulatory clearance.
• The NCAA ordered a full audit, while security agencies took the crew into custody.

The Federal Government has grounded a private aircraft and suspended its operator’s permit after the plane made an emergency landing on a road under construction near Asaba, then departed without regulatory clearance. The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, announced the action on his X account, describing the episode as a serious breach of aviation rules and security protocols.

A landing on a road, then a takeoff

According to Keyamo, the aircraft carried out a missed approach while trying to land at Asaba Airport at about 7:43 a.m. before it diverted and touched down on a concrete road under construction in the Ogwashi-Uku area of Delta State. Eyewitness accounts confirmed that all four crew members left the aircraft safely, and rescuers later moved them to Asaba by road without any injuries.

However, Keyamo voiced concern that the aircraft then left the scene at about 11:02 GMT without the required approval. According to him, Air Traffic Control learned of the departure only after the plane had already taken off. “In other words, the aircraft had no clearance to take off again,” he said.

Regulators launch enforcement action

Consequently, the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority grounded the aircraft as soon as it reached Lagos, pending the outcome of investigations. Moreover, the agency placed the flight under regulatory review to establish the circumstances of both the emergency landing and the unauthorized departure.

Furthermore, Keyamo said the NCAA is working with relevant stakeholders, including the aircraft operator and the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency, to determine exactly what happened. As part of its enforcement, the authority suspended the operator’s Permit for Non-Commercial Flight and ordered a comprehensive audit of its operational, maintenance, airworthiness and flight records.

In addition, Keyamo confirmed that security agencies had taken the crew into custody for questioning as part of the ongoing investigation. “The NCAA will take further enforcement action in accordance with applicable aviation regulations,” he said. Ultimately, the authorities promised a thorough review to prevent future breaches of aviation safety and regulatory procedures.