The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has suspended the flight crew involved in the controversial Asaba airport incident, barring the pilots from operating within Nigerian airspace while investigations continue.
The regulatory agency also announced that the aircraft involved has been grounded and its Permit to Fly withdrawn pending the conclusion of the ongoing investigation.
The Director-General of the NCAA, Capt. Chris Najomo, disclosed the development while speaking to journalists on the sidelines of the Airport Business Summit held in Lagos.
Najomo confirmed that the authority had taken immediate regulatory action against both the aircraft and its crew following the incident.
The sanctions come weeks after a chartered aircraft landed on a road under construction close to the Asaba International Airport in Delta State, an incident that generated widespread concern across the aviation sector and prompted calls for a comprehensive investigation.
Following the occurrence, the Nigeria Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) launched a safety investigation to determine the circumstances surrounding the unusual landing.
Najomo explained that while the NSIB initially handled the safety aspect of the investigation, the matter has now been formally transferred to the NCAA for regulatory action.
He said the authority had commenced its own independent investigation to determine whether aviation regulations were breached and to establish appropriate sanctions where necessary.
The NCAA Director-General further disclosed that the Department of State Services (DSS) has also joined the investigation to examine other possible dimensions of the incident.
According to him, the circumstances surrounding the landing remain unusual and require a broader investigation beyond routine aviation procedures.
Drawing from his decades of experience in aviation, Najomo questioned how a professional pilot could mistake a public road for an airport runway.
He 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. As a pilot with 45 years of experience, I will not see a road and land on it.
“We are also looking at other possible motives. The DSS has become involved and is carrying out its own investigation too. Until the report is released, that remains the position.”
Speaking during the Airport Business Summit, Najomo described the gathering as an important opportunity for aviation stakeholders to address key challenges facing the industry and identify solutions capable of strengthening Nigeria’s aviation sector.
He also assured operators that the NCAA would closely examine complaints relating to monopoly and anti-competitive practices within the industry.
According to him, the authority remains committed to maintaining fairness in the aviation market while ensuring that airlines remain commercially sustainable and passengers receive adequate protection.
Najomo said the regulator would continue to monitor industry practices to discourage unfair competition and ensure that charges imposed on operators and travellers remain reasonable.
He stated, “We will carefully look into complaints relating to monopoly and anti-competitive practices. Our responsibility is to ensure fair competition, keep airlines commercially viable, protect passengers’ interests and ensure that charges within the industry remain reasonable.”
The NCAA said further regulatory decisions would be taken after investigations by the NCAA, NSIB and DSS have been concluded and their findings reviewed.
