The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has described the landing of a private aircraft on a road under construction in Delta State and its subsequent departure without authorisation as a serious breach of aviation regulations and a potential security threat.
The minister disclosed this in a statement issued on Thursday through his media aide, Tunde Moshood, following the controversial incident near Asaba, the Delta State capital.
According to the statement, the aircraft was unable to land at the Asaba Airport at about 7:43 a.m. on Wednesday and subsequently made a safe landing on a concrete roadway under construction in the Ogwashi-Uku area.
Although no casualty was recorded, Keyamo said the circumstances surrounding the incident and the aircraft’s departure from the location without proper clearance had raised major regulatory and security concerns.
He noted that investigations revealed that Air Traffic Control was informed only after the aircraft had already taken off, indicating that the flight departed without the required operational approval.
“The incident and the events that followed constitute a matter of grave regulatory and security concern,” the minister said.
“It has been established that Air Traffic Control was notified only after the aircraft was airborne, suggesting that the flight departed without the necessary operational clearance.”
The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority had earlier grounded the aircraft upon its arrival in Lagos pending the outcome of a detailed investigation.
The authority also suspended the operator’s Permit for Non-Commercial Flight and commenced a comprehensive review of the incident.
Keyamo described the development as unacceptable, stressing that it amounted to a serious violation of aviation safety and security protocols.
He stated that the NCAA had launched a full regulatory investigation into both the emergency landing and the aircraft’s unauthorised departure from the location.
According to him, the regulatory agency is collaborating with the aircraft operator, the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency and other stakeholders to determine the exact circumstances surrounding the incident.
The minister added that investigators would scrutinise all operational, maintenance, airworthiness and flight records connected to the aircraft and its operator.
He warned that further sanctions could be imposed if violations of civil aviation regulations were established.
Meanwhile, Keyamo disclosed that relevant security agencies had taken the flight crew into custody to assist with ongoing investigations.
He said the crew members were cooperating with authorities as efforts continued to unravel the events leading to the incident.
The minister assured Nigerians that the investigation would be conducted transparently and professionally, adding that anyone found culpable would face the consequences of their actions.
He reiterated the Federal Government’s commitment to enforcing aviation regulations and safeguarding the integrity of the nation’s airspace.
“No individual or operator, regardless of status, will be allowed to circumvent established aviation procedures designed to protect lives and preserve the safety of Nigeria’s airspace system,” the statement added.