NCAA Suspends Pilots After Asaba Aircraft Incident
NCAA suspends pilots and grounds aircraft after Asaba Airport road landing incident as aviation authorities continue investigations.
The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has suspended the pilots involved in the Asaba aircraft incident and stopped them from operating in Nigerian airspace until investigations are completed.
The aviation regulator also grounded the aircraft involved and suspended its Permit to Fly following the incident near Asaba Airport, Delta State. NCAA Director-General Capt. Chris Najomo announced the measures during the Airport Business Summit in Lagos.
Najomo said the NCAA investigation began after the Nigeria Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) completed its initial safety review and handed the regulatory aspect of the case to the authority.
He confirmed that the aircraft remains grounded and the pilots cannot fly while the investigation continues. Najomo said, “The investigation is still ongoing. The NSIB has handed the investigation to us, the NCAA, and we are conducting our own inquiry.
“As we speak, the aircraft has been grounded, the Permit to Fly has been suspended, and the pilots have also been suspended pending the outcome of our investigation,” Najomo said.
The action followed last month’s Asaba aircraft incident, when a chartered aircraft landed on a road under construction close to the airport. The event raised concerns among aviation experts and led to calls for a detailed investigation.
Najomo, a pilot with 45 years of experience, described the situation as unusual. He said, “As a pilot with 45 years of experience, I will not see a road and land on it.”
The NCAA boss added that investigators were reviewing all possible factors behind the incident. He confirmed that the Department of State Services (DSS) had also started a separate inquiry to determine whether issues beyond pilot error contributed to the event.
Najomo also assured aviation operators that the regulator would continue addressing concerns about fair competition, monopoly and anti-competitive practices. He said the NCAA remains focused on improving aviation safety standards, protecting passengers and supporting a stronger industry.
Do you think the ongoing investigation will reveal wider issues beyond pilot error in the Asaba incident?
