NCAA bans American pilot from Nigerian airspace following incident at Asaba airport

The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has barred the American pilot involved in the June 10 aviation incident at Asaba Airport from operating in Nigeria’s airspace and suspended the aircraft’s First Officer pending the outcome of ongoing investigations.

Director-General of Civil Aviation Chris Najomo announced the sanctions on the sidelines of the Airport Business Summit in Lagos, saying the regulator had taken enforcement action after assuming responsibility for the regulatory aspect of the investigation from the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB). The incident involved a Bombardier Challenger 601-3A operated by VMO Aero Limited and registered in the United States as N989BC. The aircraft landed on an uncompleted roadway instead of the runway at Asaba Airport, raising significant safety and security concerns within the aviation industry.

Najomo said the NCAA had grounded the aircraft and suspended its Permit for Non-Commercial Flight (PNCF) while investigations continue. “About the Asaba incident, well, the investigation is still ongoing. NSIB has handed the investigation to us, the CAA, and we are doing our own investigation.

“As we speak, the aircraft is grounded, the PNCF is suspended, and the pilots are suspended from flying in this airspace until we come up with our own investigation. Me as a pilot for 45 years, I will not see a road and land on the road. So, we will look at the other motives too. So the DSS got involved and they are investigating until those investigations come out, it remains like that.”

Najomo explained that while the NSIB conducted the initial safety investigation in accordance with international aviation standards, the case has now entered the regulatory phase, which falls under the jurisdiction of the NCAA. He added that the Department of State Services (DSS) had joined the investigation, underscoring the seriousness with which authorities are treating the incident.

The NCAA chief assured aviation stakeholders and the travelling public that the investigation would be thorough and transparent, adding that appropriate sanctions would be imposed if regulatory violations are established. Speaking on the Airport Business Summit, Najomo described the gathering as an important platform for addressing critical issues affecting Nigeria’s aviation sector.

He said the NCAA would also examine complaints by industry operators regarding monopoly and anti-competitive practices, stressing that the authority remained committed to ensuring a level playing field, protecting passengers’ interests, promoting the commercial sustainability of airlines and preventing excessive charges across the aviation value chain.

The NSIB launched a safety investigation shortly after the June 10 occurrence to determine the probable cause of the incident, following reports that the flight crew had mistaken a road for the airport runway during landing operations.