The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has grounded a privately operated aircraft and suspended the operator’s Permit for Non-Commercial Flight (PNCF) following an incident in which the aircraft landed on a roadway near Asaba, Delta State.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, the NCAA’s Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Michael Achimugu, said preliminary reports indicated that the aircraft carried out a missed approach while attempting to land at Asaba Airport at approximately 7:43 a.m.

According to the regulator, the aircraft subsequently landed in the Ogwashi-Uku area near Asaba. All occupants were reported to have exited the aircraft safely, with no injuries or fatalities recorded.

“Reports received from personnel at the scene indicate that all occupants safely exited the aircraft and were transported to Asaba by road,” Achimugu said.

He added that the aircraft had four crew members on board and that no injuries had been reported among passengers or crew.

However, the NCAA disclosed that preliminary findings suggest the aircraft later departed the location and returned to Lagos without obtaining the required regulatory clearance. The authority said Air Traffic Control was only notified after the aircraft had already become airborne.

Achimugu noted that the alleged unauthorized departure constitutes a potential violation of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Regulations (Nig.CARs) and is currently under investigation.

The authority said it immediately grounded the aircraft upon its arrival in Lagos pending the outcome of ongoing investigations.

“The flight crew have been placed under regulatory review while the NCAA conducts further inquiries into the circumstances surrounding the occurrence and the subsequent unauthorized departure of the aircraft,” the statement said.

The NCAA also confirmed that it has notified the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) and is working closely with relevant aviation stakeholders, including the operator and the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), to establish the full circumstances surrounding the incident.

As part of its regulatory oversight responsibilities, the authority said it will review all operational, airworthiness, maintenance and flight-related records associated with the aircraft and operator.

In addition to grounding the aircraft, the NCAA announced the suspension of the operator’s PNCF and indicated that further enforcement actions may follow based on the outcome of the investigation.

The authority reaffirmed its commitment to maintaining the highest standards of aviation safety, security and regulatory compliance across Nigeria’s aviation sector.