The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has suspended the pilot and first officer of a private jet that controversially landed on a road in Delta State, barring them from operating within Nigerian airspace pending the outcome of an investigation into the incident.
Speaking to journalists on the sidelines of the Airport Business Summit in Lagos on Wednesday, NCAA Director-General, Captain Chris Najomo, disclosed that the Authority had also grounded the aircraft and suspended its Permit for Non-Commercial Flight (PNCF), effectively preventing it from flying until investigations are concluded.
Najomo explained that although the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) initially handled the matter, the investigation has now been transferred to the NCAA for a regulatory probe.
“The investigation is still ongoing. The Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau has handed the investigation to us. We are carrying out our own investigation. As we speak, the aircraft is grounded and the Permit for Non-Commercial Flight has been suspended,” he said.
The NCAA chief stressed that the two pilots would remain suspended from flying in Nigerian airspace while authorities determine the circumstances surrounding the incident.
According to him, the unusual landing has raised concerns that require thorough scrutiny.
“As a pilot for 45 years, I can’t see a road and land on it. We also have to examine other possible motives. The DSS is involved and carrying out its own investigation. Until that process is completed, the suspension remains,” Najomo stated.
The incident occurred in June when a private jet with registration number N989BC, operated by VMO Aero Ltd, landed on a road in the Ogwashi-Uku area of Delta State.
The aircraft, carrying four crew members, later departed the scene and returned to Lagos without obtaining the necessary regulatory clearance, triggering investigations by aviation authorities and security agencies.
The Department of State Services (DSS) is also participating in the probe to determine the circumstances that led to the unusual landing and the aircraft’s subsequent departure from the location.
