The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has initiated an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the diversion of United Nigeria flight NUA 0506 to Asaba and the resulting confusion within the public sphere.
Recall that the flight, NUA 0504, took off on Sunday from the Muritala Muhammed International Airport, Terminal 2, and was headed for Abuja but diverted to Asaba.
Speaking on the incident on Sunday evening, the airline’s spokesperson, Uchegbu Achilleus-Chud, explained that the affected aircraft, NUA 0504, was “temporarily diverted to Asaba International Airport due to poor destination weather.”
Achilleus-Chud said: “A wrong announcement” by the cabin crew upon landing at Asaba was what created confusion among passengers.
“At all material time, the pilot of the aircraft was aware of the temporary diversion and was properly briefed,” he said.
But a statement signed by Captain Musa Nuhu noted that an investigation has commenced into the situation.
Truthlive news learnt that the agency has suspended all the wet-leased aircraft in the operations of United Nigeria Airlines (UNA).
The NCAA’s decision has been communicated to the airline via a letter on Monday.
The statement partly reads: “However, preliminary steps have been taken pending conclusions of ongoing investigation.
“The Authority wishes to reassure the travelling public that it will leave no stone unturned as it has always done in the past to ensure the continued safety of the aviation industry.”