The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) suspends the permit of an aircraft operator after an incident near Asaba involving an attempted landing at Asaba Airport. According to the NCAA, preliminary information shows the aircraft faces difficulties during its approach, executes a missed approach, and eventually lands on a concrete road under construction in Ogwashi-Uku, close to Asaba.
The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, says the attempt to land occurs around 7:43 a.m. and that four crew members are on board. No injuries are reported; the crew is evacuated from the roadway area and taken to Asaba by road.
Keyamo further states that the aircraft later departs the incident site at about 11:02 GMT and returns to Lagos without obtaining regulatory clearance. He adds that Air Traffic Control is notified only after the aircraft has taken off, and that the takeoff back is therefore not authorized.
The NCAA grounds the aircraft upon arrival in Lagos and suspends its Permit for Non-Commercial Flight (PNCF). The authority says it is reviewing operational, maintenance, airworthiness, and flight records, and that security agencies take custody of the crew as they assist with inquiries.
