The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has described the controversial landing and subsequent departure of a private aircraft from a roadway near Asaba, Delta State, as a serious violation of aviation regulations and a national security concern.
The aircraft, with registration number N986BC, reportedly failed to land at the Asaba Airport on Wednesday morning before touching down on a concrete road still under construction in the Ogwashi-Uku area of Delta State.
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A video reviewed by PREMIUM TIMES showed vehicles parked behind the roadway awaiting the aircraft’s departure, while dozens of residents gathered to watch and record the unusual scene. Men wearing reflective jackets, suspected to be workers involved in the road construction project, were also visible near the aircraft.
In the footage, one bystander was heard in Nigerian Pidgin saying, “Make e take off o,” expressing hope that the aircraft would depart safely. Moments later, cheers erupted after the plane successfully took off from the roadway.
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In a statement issued on Thursday by Tunde Moshood, the minister’s media aide, Mr Keyamo said the aircraft attempted to land at approximately 7:43 a.m. local time but was unable to access the airport runway before making what he described as a safe landing on the unfinished road.
While expressing relief that no lives were lost, the minister said the circumstances surrounding the incident and the aircraft’s subsequent departure without 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.
“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.”
Mr Keyamo described the development as unacceptable, saying it amounted to “a serious breach of aviation regulations and security protocols.”
He said the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) had commenced a comprehensive review of the incident and the circumstances surrounding the aircraft’s departure from the location.
“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,” the statement added.
The minister said the regulatory authority was collaborating with the aircraft operator, the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency and other stakeholders to establish the full facts of the incident.
According to him, investigators will examine the aircraft’s operational, maintenance, airworthiness and flight records as part of the probe.
“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 the applicable civil aviation regulations,” the statement said.
This development comes days after PREMIUM TIMES reported how an ex-senator’s wife breached airport security protocol and escorted her husband to the foot of a waiting aircraft.
Crew in custody
Mr Keyamo also disclosed that relevant security agencies had taken custody of the flight crew, who are assisting investigators.
“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 is fully cooperating with ongoing investigations,” the statement said.
The minister assured Nigerians that the investigation would be transparent and that appropriate actions would be taken based on its findings.
“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,” he said.
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NCAA grounds aircraft
The minister’s statement came a day after the NCAA announced the immediate grounding of the aircraft following its arrival in Lagos.
The authority said it had suspended the operator’s Permit for Non-Commercial Flight and launched a full-scale investigation into the incident.
