The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has suspended the pilot and first officer of a private jet that landed on a road in Delta State pending the conclusion of investigations into the incident.
Director-General of the NCAA, Capt. Chris Najomo, disclosed this on Wednesday while speaking to journalists on the sidelines of the Airport Business Summit in Lagos.
The aircraft, a private jet with registration number N989BC operated by VMO Aero Ltd, landed on a road in Ogwashi-Uku, Delta State, in June.
The aircraft had four crew members on board and later departed the location for Lagos without obtaining the required regulatory approval.
Najomo said the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) had transferred the investigation to the NCAA, which has since commenced its own inquiry.
He also confirmed that the aircraft has been grounded and its Permit for Non-Commercial Flight (PNCF) suspended.
“The investigation is still ongoing. The NSIB has handed the investigation to us, and we are conducting our own investigation.
“As we speak, the aircraft is grounded, the Permit for Non-Commercial Flight has been suspended, and both the pilot-in-command and the first officer have been suspended from operating in Nigerian airspace until the investigation is concluded,” Najomo said.
He questioned the circumstances surrounding the incident, noting that landing an aircraft on a public road raises serious safety concerns.
“As a pilot with 45 years of experience, I cannot understand how someone would see a road and decide to land there. We also have to examine whether there were other motives,” he added.
The NCAA boss further revealed that the Department of State Services (DSS) is also investigating the incident, and the suspensions will remain in effect until all investigations are completed.
