Fresh security concerns have emerged in Nigeria’s aviation sector after a privately operated aircraft that reportedly landed on a roadway near Asaba, Delta State, subsequently departed the location and returned to Lagos without obtaining regulatory approval.
The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority, in a statement issued on Wednesday by its Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Michael Achimugu, confirmed that it had suspended the operator’s permit for non-commercial flights and grounded the aircraft pending a full investigation into the incident.
According to the regulator, the aircraft encountered difficulties while attempting to land at Asaba Airport on Tuesday morning and was forced to execute a missed approach before touching down on a roadway in the Ogwashi-Uku area near Asaba.
The authority added that all four crew members on board safely evacuated the aircraft and were transported to Asaba by road, with no injuries recorded.
“Available information indicates that the aircraft conducted a missed approach at approximately 0743 local time while attempting to land at Asaba. Subsequently, the aircraft reportedly landed on a roadway in the Ogwashi-Uku area near Asaba.
