NCAA grounds aircraft after emergency road landing near Asaba Airport
The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has grounded a private aircraft following an incident in which it missed its approach to Asaba Airport and landed on a roadway in Ogwashi-Uku, Delta State.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, NCAA Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Michael Achimugu, confirmed the incident, saying: “The aircraft conducted an unstable approach and subsequently landed off the airport environment on a roadway near Ogwashi-Uku at about 07:43 local time on June 10, 2026.”
According to the Authority, all four crew members aboard the aircraft evacuated safely, with no injuries reported. “There were no fatalities or injuries recorded, and all occupants exited the aircraft safely,” the statement added.
The NCAA further disclosed that preliminary findings indicated the aircraft later departed the site at approximately 11:02 GMT and flew to Lagos without obtaining the required regulatory clearance.
“The departure was not authorised by Air Traffic Control, and notification was only received after the aircraft had taken off,” Achimugu stated, describing the action as a violation of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Regulations (Nig. CARs).
The unauthorized movement has since triggered an ongoing regulatory investigation.
Upon arrival in Lagos, the aircraft was immediately grounded by the NCAA. The crew members are also undergoing regulatory review as investigators examine both the circumstances surrounding the emergency landing and the subsequent flight.
“The Authority will not tolerate breaches of safety procedures or regulatory compliance,” the NCAA said, adding that full cooperation has been initiated with the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB), the aircraft operator, and the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA).
