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 outcome of an ongoing investigation into the incident.
The 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.
According to Najomo, the pilot-in-command has been barred from operating in Nigerian airspace, while the first officer has also been suspended until investigations are concluded.
The incident occurred in June when a private jet, with registration number N989BC and operated by VMO Aero Ltd, landed on a road in the Ogwashi-Uku area of Delta State.
The aircraft, which had four crew members on board, later departed the scene and returned to Lagos without obtaining the required regulatory approval.
Najomo said the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) had transferred the investigation to the NCAA, which is now conducting its own probe.
He added that the aircraft has been grounded, while its Permit for Non-Commercial Flight (PNCF) has been 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 and the Permit for Non-Commercial Flight has been suspended,” he said.
“The pilots are suspended from flying in Nigerian airspace until we conclude our investigation. As a pilot of 45 years, I can’t see a road and decide to land on it. You also have to consider other possible motives.”
Najomo further disclosed that the Department of State Services (DSS) is also investigating the incident, adding that the suspension of the pilots will remain in place until the investigations are concluded.
