A private aircraft on Wednesday made an emergency landing on a concrete road under construction in the Ogwashi-Uku area of Delta State after reportedly failing to land at the Asaba International Airport.
The incident, which occurred at about 7:43 a.m., triggered concern among residents and aviation authorities. However, all four crew members aboard the aircraft escaped unhurt and were safely evacuated from the scene.
The development was confirmed by Nigeria’s Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, who disclosed that the aircraft had attempted a missed approach at the Asaba airport before ending up on the road near the state capital.
According to the minister, eyewitnesses reported that the occupants safely exited the aircraft and were transported to Asaba by road.
Keyamo further revealed that the aircraft later departed the location and flew back to Lagos at about 11:02 GMT without obtaining the required regulatory clearance.
He stated that Air Traffic Control was only informed after the aircraft had already become airborne, describing the action as a serious breach of aviation regulations and security procedures.
In response, the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) immediately grounded the aircraft upon its arrival in Lagos pending the outcome of an investigation.
The NCAA has also placed the flight under regulatory review and launched further inquiries into the circumstances surrounding both the emergency landing and the aircraft’s subsequent unauthorized departure.
The aviation regulator said it is working with relevant stakeholders, including the aircraft operator and the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency, to determine the full details of the incident.
As part of its enforcement measures, the NCAA has suspended the operator’s Permit for Non-Commercial Flight (PNCF) and announced plans to review the aircraft’s operational, airworthiness, maintenance and flight records.
Security agencies have also taken custody of the crew members and are assisting investigators.
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