The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has described the landing and subsequent departure of a private aircraft from a roadway near Asaba, Delta State, as a serious violation of aviation regulations and a potential national security threat.
The incident occurred on Wednesday morning when the aircraft reportedly failed to land at Asaba Airport and instead touched down on a concrete road still under construction in the Ogwashi-Uku area of Delta State.
According to a statement issued on Thursday by the minister’s media aide, Tunde Moshood, the aircraft attempted to land at the airport at about 7:43 a.m. local time but was unable to access the runway before making what was described as a safe landing on the unfinished roadway.
The development prompted swift action from the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, which grounded the aircraft upon its arrival in Lagos pending the outcome of an investigation.
The regulatory agency also suspended the operator’s Permit for Non-Commercial Flight and launched a comprehensive review of the circumstances surrounding the incident.
Reacting to the development, Keyamo expressed gratitude that no lives were lost but warned that the events leading to the aircraft’s landing and its subsequent departure without proper authorisation raised significant regulatory and security concerns.
“The Honourable Minister, while expressing gratitude that no lives were lost, described the incident and the events that followed as a matter of grave regulatory and security concern,” the statement said.
According to the minister, preliminary findings showed that Air Traffic Control was only informed after the aircraft had already taken off from the location.
“It has further been established that Air Traffic Control was only notified after the aircraft was already airborne, implying that the flight departed without the necessary operational clearance,” he stated.
Keyamo described the action as a serious breach of established aviation procedures and security protocols, stressing that the matter would be thoroughly investigated.
“The NCAA has placed the flight under comprehensive regulatory review and has commenced further inquiries into both the circumstances surrounding the incident and the subsequent unauthorised departure of the aircraft from the location,” he added.
The minister said the aviation regulator was working closely with the aircraft operator, the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency and other relevant stakeholders to determine the full facts of the case.
He added that investigators would examine all operational, maintenance, airworthiness and flight-related records connected to both the aircraft and its operator.
“The NCAA will undertake a thorough review of all operational, airworthiness, maintenance and flight-related records associated with the aircraft and operator, and will not hesitate to impose further enforcement actions as may be warranted under applicable civil aviation regulations,” the statement noted.
Meanwhile, Keyamo disclosed that security agencies had taken the flight crew into custody and that they were assisting with ongoing investigations.
“The Honourable Minister has been in contact with the relevant security agencies and has received assurances that the flight crew are currently in their custody and are fully cooperating with ongoing investigations,” the statement said.
The minister assured Nigerians that the investigation would be conducted transparently and that anyone found culpable would face appropriate sanctions.
“No individual or operator, irrespective of status, will be permitted to circumvent established aviation procedures designed to safeguard lives and maintain the integrity of Nigeria’s airspace system,” the statement added.
