Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has suspended the pilots involved in the recent aircraft roadway landing incident near Asaba, Delta State, pending the outcome of an ongoing investigation into the occurrence.
Gatekeepers News reports that Chris Najomo, director-general of the NCAA, announced the decision on the sidelines of the Airport Business Summit in Lagos on Wednesday. He said the aircraft involved has also been grounded, while its permit to fly has been suspended until investigations are concluded.
The incident occurred when the private aircraft, while attempting to land at the Asaba Airport, missed the runway and landed on a roadway in the Ogwashi-Uku area.
No casualties were recorded, and all four crew members exited the aircraft safely. Preliminary findings indicated that the aircraft carried out a missed approach before the unusual landing.
Najomo said the suspension of the pilots was necessary to preserve the integrity of the investigation and ensure compliance with aviation safety regulations.
He added that the NCAA is working with the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB), the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), and other stakeholders to determine the circumstances surrounding the incident.
The regulator had earlier grounded the aircraft and suspended the operator’s Permit for Non-Commercial Flight (PNCF), stressing that appropriate regulatory action would be taken based on the outcome of the investigation.
