Unauthorised escape flight from Asaba triggers security fears

Fresh security concerns have emerged in Nigeria’s aviation sector after a privately operated aircraft that reportedly landed on a roadway near Asaba, Delta State, subsequently departed the location and returned to Lagos without obtaining regulatory approval.

The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority, in a statement issued on Wednesday by its Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Michael Achimugu, confirmed that it had suspended the operator’s permit for non-commercial flights and grounded the aircraft pending a full investigation into the incident.

According to the regulator, the aircraft encountered difficulties while attempting to land at Asaba Airport on Tuesday morning and was forced to execute a missed approach before touching down on a roadway in the Ogwashi-Uku area near Asaba.

The authority added that all four crew members on board safely evacuated the aircraft and were transported to Asaba by road, with no injuries recorded.

“Available information indicates that the aircraft conducted a missed approach at approximately 0743 local time while attempting to land at Asaba. Subsequently, the aircraft reportedly landed on a roadway in the Ogwashi-Uku area near Asaba.

“The aircraft had four crew members on board. At this time, no injuries to passengers or crew have been reported,” the statement said.

The security concerns stem from the aircraft’s subsequent departure from the location without the required regulatory clearance.

“Preliminary information available to the authority indicates that the aircraft subsequently departed the location at approximately 1102 GMT and returned to Lagos without obtaining the requisite regulatory approval,” the NCAA disclosed.

The regulator further revealed that Air Traffic Control was informed only after the aircraft had already become airborne, describing the action as a violation of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Regulations.

“The authority has also been informed that Air Traffic Control was notified only after the aircraft had become airborne. This action constitutes a violation of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Regulations and is currently under investigation by the Authority,” the statement added.

Following the aircraft’s arrival in Lagos, the NCAA said it immediately grounded the aircraft, placed the flight crew under regulatory review and suspended the operator’s permit for non-commercial flights pending the outcome of investigations.

“Upon its arrival in Lagos, the NCAA immediately grounded the aircraft pending the outcome of its investigation. The flight crew has been placed under regulatory review while the NCAA conducts further inquiries into the circumstances surrounding the occurrence and the subsequent unauthorised departure of the aircraft,” Achimugu stated.

The authority said it had formally notified the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau and was working with the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency and the operator to determine the full circumstances surrounding the incident.

It added that investigators would scrutinise all operational, maintenance, airworthiness and flight-related records before deciding on further enforcement actions.

Reacting to the development, former Military Commandant of Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Group Capt John Ojikutu (retd.), described the incident as a grave security breach, insisting that investigators must establish who, if anyone, disembarked from the aircraft during the landing.

“Absolutely, that pilot should be arrested by now. The first thing investigators should ask him is who disembarked at that location,” Ojikutu said.

Drawing from his experience in military aviation operations, he recounted how he once grounded a presidential aircraft for four days after its pilot parked at an unauthorised section of the airport and failed to provide satisfactory information about passengers on board.

He stated, “A lot of things are happening nowadays. These kinds of incidents should not be allowed. That aircraft may even be foreign-registered. In these circumstances, the pilot should be arrested and detained if it is a foreign-registered aircraft. If it is locally registered, the pilot’s licence should be seized. I have seized an American aircraft before. When it comes to security, no stone should be left unturned.”

Also commenting on the development, President of the Aviation Safety Round Table Initiative, Air Commodore Ademola Onitiju (retd.), said the occurrence raised legitimate questions about aviation safety, crew competence and national security, although he cautioned against drawing premature conclusions before investigators complete their work.

“Of course, it poses a security threat. That is why aviation remains one of the most highly regulated industries. The purpose of the regulations is to ensure that only competent and medically fit personnel are allowed to operate aircraft. Incompetence is not tolerated,” he said.

According to him, the incident raises critical questions about competence, negligence, and how professional and current the pilot and co-pilot are, as well as whether the crew were adequately familiar with Nigerian operating conditions.

While acknowledging public concern, Onitiju urged caution pending the outcome of investigations by the NSIB. “As to national security, yes, we should be bothered. Most of what is being discussed now remains speculative in terms of possibilities. It is an unusual incident, but we still have to investigate and wait for the findings of the NSIB,” he added.