The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has barred the American pilot involved in the June 10 aviation incident at Asaba Airport from operating within Nigeria’s airspace and suspended the aircraft’s First Officer pending the conclusion of ongoing investigations.
Director-General of Civil Aviation, Capt. Chris Najomo, announced the sanctions on the sidelines of the Airport Business Summit in Lagos, stating that the NCAA had assumed responsibility for the regulatory aspect of the investigation from the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB).
The incident involved a United States-registered Bombardier Challenger 601-3A aircraft, operated by VMO Aero Limited and bearing registration number N989BC. The aircraft mistakenly landed on an uncompleted roadway instead of the designated runway at Asaba Airport, prompting serious safety and security concerns.
Najomo disclosed that the aircraft has been grounded, while its Permit for Non-Commercial Flight (PNCF) has been suspended pending the outcome of the investigation.
“About the Asaba incident, the investigation is still ongoing. NSIB has handed the investigation to the NCAA, and we are conducting our own inquiry. As we speak, the aircraft is grounded, the PNCF is suspended, and the pilots have been suspended from flying within Nigeria’s airspace until the investigation is concluded,” he said.
The NCAA boss, a veteran pilot with over four decades of experience, expressed concern over the circumstances surrounding the incident.
“As a pilot of 45 years, I will not see a road and land on it. We will also examine other possible motives. The Department of State Services (DSS) is involved in the investigation, and we will await the outcome of all investigations,” he added.
Najomo explained that while the NSIB carried out the initial safety investigation in line with international aviation standards, the matter has now entered the regulatory enforcement stage, which falls under the jurisdiction of the NCAA.
He assured stakeholders and the travelling public that the investigation would be thorough, transparent and conducted in accordance with aviation regulations, noting that appropriate sanctions would be imposed if any regulatory breaches are established.
Speaking on the Airport Business Summit, Najomo described the event as an important platform for addressing key challenges facing Nigeria’s aviation sector.
He also disclosed that the NCAA would investigate complaints by industry operators regarding alleged monopoly and anti-competitive practices, reaffirming the authority’s commitment to promoting fair competition, protecting passengers’ interests, ensuring the commercial sustainability of airlines and preventing excessive charges across the aviation industry.
The NSIB had launched a safety investigation shortly after the June 10 incident to determine the probable cause of the occurrence following reports that the flight crew mistook an access road for the airport runway during landing.