Reported by: Oahimire Omone Precious | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
A privately operated aircraft with four crew members on board landed on a roadway in the Ogwashi-Uku area near Asaba, Delta State, on Wednesday morning, June 10, 2026, after the pilot executed a missed approach while attempting to land at Asaba Airport. The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has grounded the aircraft, suspended the operator’s Permit for Non-Commercial Flight (PNCF), and launched a full investigation into the incident as well as the aircraft’s subsequent unauthorised departure to Lagos.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, the NCAA’s Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Michael Achimugu, said preliminary reports indicate that the aircraft conducted a missed approach at approximately 7:43 a.m. local time while attempting to land at Asaba Airport. Reports from personnel at the scene confirmed that all four crew members safely exited the aircraft and were transported to Asaba by road. No injuries were reported.
The aircraft later departed the location at approximately 11:02 GMT and returned to Lagos without obtaining the requisite regulatory approval. The NCAA said Air Traffic Control was notified only after the aircraft had become airborne. The regulator described the action as a violation of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Regulations (Nig.CARs).
The NCAA immediately grounded the aircraft upon its arrival in Lagos and placed the flight crew under regulatory review. The operator’s PNCF has been suspended pending the outcome of investigations. The authority has formally notified the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) and is coordinating with the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) and other stakeholders to determine the full circumstances surrounding the incident.
The NCAA said it will review all operational, airworthiness, maintenance and flight-related records as part of its statutory responsibilities and will take further enforcement action in accordance with applicable aviation regulations.
The incident has also triggered security concerns, with aviation experts questioning the safety and regulatory lapses that allowed the aircraft to depart the scene without clearance. The Federal Government has ordered a probe into reports that the aircraft mistakenly confused the expressway with the runway, an allegation that will be scrutinised during the investigation.
As the NCAA continues its inquiry, the grounded aircraft remains in Lagos and the flight crew are under investigation. Further enforcement actions will be determined based on the outcome of the regulatory review.
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