‎NCAA Grounds Aircraft After Unauthorized Takeoff Following Emergency Landing in Delta ‎

‎ The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has grounded a private aircraft and suspended its operating permit after it allegedly took off without regulatory approval following an emergency landing near Asaba, Delta State.
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‎In a statement issued on Wednesday, NCAA Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Michael Achimugu, disclosed that the aircraft encountered an incident at about 7:43 a.m. local time when it missed its approach and landed on a roadway in Ogwashi-Uku, near Asaba.
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‎According to the Authority, all four crew members onboard safely evacuated the aircraft and no injuries were recorded.
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‎However, preliminary investigations revealed that the aircraft later departed the landing site for Lagos at approximately 11:02 GMT without obtaining the necessary approvals from aviation regulators. The NCAA noted that Air Traffic Control was informed only after the aircraft had already taken off.
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‎The Authority described the action as a violation of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Regulations (Nig. CARs), stressing that the unauthorized departure is now a major focus of its ongoing investigation.
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‎Upon arrival in Lagos, the aircraft was immediately grounded by the NCAA, while the crew members were placed under regulatory review pending the outcome of investigations into both the emergency landing and the subsequent unauthorized flight.
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‎The NCAA said it has formally notified the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) and is working closely with the aircraft operator and the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) to determine the circumstances surrounding the incident.
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‎As part of enforcement measures, the Authority announced the suspension of the operator’s Permit for Non-Commercial Flight (PNCF) pending a comprehensive review of its operational and maintenance records.
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‎Reaffirming its commitment to aviation safety, security, and regulatory compliance, the NCAA said appropriate actions would be taken based on the findings of the investigation.