Asaba Landing: NCAA suspends pilots, grounds aircraft over road landing
The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has suspended the two pilots who operated the Bombardier Challenger aircraft that mistakenly landed on a concrete road in Asaba, Delta State, declaring that they would no longer be allowed to operate within the country’s airspace pending the outcome of investigations.
The Director-General of the NCAA, Capt. Chris Najomo disclosed this on Tuesday while speaking at the Airport Business and Expo Summit 2026 held at the NIGAV Centre.
Najomo said both the Pilot-in-Command and the First Officer violated Nigeria’s aviation regulations during the flight to Asaba, adding that the First Officer has been suspended pending the conclusion of ongoing investigations.
He further revealed that the aircraft involved has been grounded, while its Permit to Fly (PNCF) has been suspended.
According to him, although the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) carried out the initial safety investigation into the incident, the regulatory aspect of the matter has now been transferred to the NCAA, which has commenced its own independent investigation.
The NCAA boss also disclosed that the Department of State Services (DSS) has joined the investigation to determine the circumstances surrounding the incident.
Capt. Najomo, a pilot with more than 45 years of flying experience, described the occurrence as highly unusual, saying he could not understand how an aircraft could mistake a road for a runway.
He assured that the authority would leave no stone unturned in uncovering the cause of the incident before taking final regulatory action against those found culpable.
Speaking on the Airport Business and Expo Summit, Najomo described the event as an important platform for aviation stakeholders to deliberate on the critical challenges confronting Nigeria’s aviation industry.
He also assured industry operators that the NCAA would carefully examine concerns over monopoly and anti-competitive practices, reiterating the regulator’s commitment to promoting fair competition, ensuring the commercial viability of airlines, protecting passengers’ interests, and preventing excessive charges across the sector.
If this is intended for the front page of a national newspaper, I’d also recommend adding the NCAA’s legal basis for suspending the pilots, details of when the Asaba incident occurred, the aircraft operator, and any response from the operator or NSIB to make the report more comprehensive and balanced.
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