Keyamo reacts as plane takes off from concrete road after missing destination
Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has ordered a full investigation after a private aircraft that failed to land at Asaba Airport reportedly touched down on a concrete road under construction before later taking off again without regulatory approval. In a statement on Wednesday, the minister described the incident as a serious breach […]
Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has ordered a full investigation after a private aircraft that failed to land at Asaba Airport reportedly touched down on a concrete road under construction before later taking off again without regulatory approval.
In a statement on Wednesday, the minister described the incident as a serious breach of aviation regulations and security protocols, disclosing that the aircraft had been grounded while authorities conduct investigations.
According to Keyamo, the aircraft conducted a missed approach at approximately 7:43 a.m. local time while attempting to land at Asaba Airport but ended up landing on a concrete road under construction in the Ogwashi-Uku area, near Asaba.
Fortunately, he said, all four crew members on board escaped unharmed.
“I have received reports of the private aircraft that conducted a missed approach at approximately 7:43 a.m. local time this morning whilst attempting to land at the Asaba Airport and ended up landing on a concrete road still under construction in the Ogwashi-Uku area, near Asaba,” the minister said.
“Happily, eyewitnesses at the scene indicate that all occupants safely exited the aircraft and were transported to Asaba by road. The aircraft had four crew members on board and there were no injuries.”
However, the minister expressed concern that the aircraft later departed the location and flew back to Lagos without obtaining the required regulatory clearance.
According to him, the aircraft took off at approximately 11:02 GMT, while Air Traffic Control was notified only after it had become airborne.
“In other words, the aircraft had no clearance to take off again,” Keyamo stated.
He said the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has already taken several enforcement actions in response to the incident.
“Upon its arrival in Lagos, the NCAA immediately grounded the aircraft pending the outcome of its investigation, while placing the flight under regulatory review to determine the circumstances surrounding both the emergency landing and the subsequent unauthorized departure.”
The minister added that the NCAA is working with relevant aviation stakeholders, including the aircraft operator and the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), to establish the full facts of the incident.
As part of the sanctions, the regulator has suspended the operator’s Permit for Non-Commercial Flight (PNCF) and will review all operational, airworthiness, maintenance and flight-related records in line with its statutory responsibilities.
“The NCAA will take further enforcement action in accordance with applicable aviation regulations,” Keyamo said.
He also disclosed that he had contacted relevant security agencies, which confirmed that the aircraft’s crew members are currently in their custody and are assisting with ongoing investigations.
The incident has raised fresh concerns about compliance with aviation safety procedures and regulatory oversight, with authorities promising a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding the unusual landing and unauthorized takeoff.