The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has called the recent landing of a private aircraft on a road near Asaba, Delta State, a serious breach of aviation rules and a national security issue.
The aircraft, registered as N986BC, tried to land at Asaba Airport on Wednesday morning but instead landed on a concrete road that is still being built in the Ogwashi-Uku area of Delta State.
A video seen by PREMIUM TIMES showed cars parked behind the road waiting for the aircraft to leave. Many residents gathered to watch and film the strange event. Workers in reflective jackets, likely part of the road construction team, were also seen near the plane.
In the video, one person was heard in Nigerian Pidgin saying, "Make e take off o," hoping the aircraft would take off safely. Cheers erupted moments later when the plane successfully took off from the road.
In a statement on Thursday from Tunde Moshood, Keyamo's media aide, the minister said the aircraft tried to land at about 7:43 a.m. but could not reach the airport runway. He noted that the plane landed safely on the unfinished road.
Keyamo expressed relief that no one was hurt. He said the way the aircraft left without permission raised big concerns about regulations and security.
"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.
The minister added that Air Traffic Control was only informed after the aircraft had already taken off, meaning it left without proper clearance.
Keyamo called the situation unacceptable, saying it was a serious breach of aviation rules and security protocols.
He said the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) is reviewing the incident and the circumstances of the aircraft’s departure.
"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 unauthorized departure of the aircraft from the location," the statement added.
The minister mentioned that the regulatory authority is working with the aircraft operator, the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency, and others to find out what really happened.
Investigators will look into the aircraft’s operational, maintenance, airworthiness, and flight records as part of their investigation.
"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 news comes a few days after PREMIUM TIMES reported how an ex-senator’s wife broke airport security rules and escorted her husband to the waiting aircraft.
Keyamo also said that relevant security agencies have taken the flight crew into custody, and they are helping with the investigation.
"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 are fully cooperating with ongoing investigations," the statement said.
The minister promised Nigerians that the investigation would be open and that appropriate actions would follow based on what they find.
"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.
The minister's statement came a day after the NCAA announced it had grounded the aircraft upon its arrival in Lagos.
The authority said it had suspended the operator’s Permit for Non-Commercial Flight and begun a full investigation into the incident.
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