Keyamo Orders Probe, Grounds Aircraft After Unauthorized Landing on Asaba Road

Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo

Keyamo Orders Probe, Grounds Aircraft After Unauthorized Landing on Asaba Road

The Federal Government has grounded a private aircraft and suspended its operator’s permit following a dramatic incident in which the aircraft made an emergency landing on a road under construction near Asaba and later departed without regulatory clearance.

Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, disclosed the development in a statement posted on his X account, describing the incident as a serious breach of aviation regulations and security protocols.

According to Keyamo, the aircraft carried out a missed approach while attempting to land at Asaba Airport at about 7:43 a.m. local time on Wednesday, June 10, 2026, before diverting and landing on a concrete road under construction in the Ogwashi-Uku area of Delta State. He said eyewitness reports confirmed that all four crew members on board safely exited the aircraft and were later transported to Asaba by road, with no injuries recorded. A short video that surfaced online showed the aircraft stationary on the concrete road before taxiing along the road being reconstructed and taking off.

Keyamo expressed concern over the aircraft’s subsequent departure from the scene at about 11:02 GMT (12:02 p.m. local time) without obtaining the required regulatory approval. He said Air Traffic Control was only notified after the aircraft had already taken off, noting that the aircraft had no clearance for departure. “In other words, the aircraft had no clearance to take off again,” he said. The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) , in a statement signed by its Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Michael Achimugu, confirmed that the action constituted a violation of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Regulations (Nig. CARs) and is currently under investigation.

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Following the incident, the NCAA immediately grounded the aircraft upon its arrival in Lagos, pending the outcome of investigations. The Authority also placed the flight crew under regulatory review while inquiries continue into both the initial occurrence and the unauthorised departure. As part of enforcement actions, the NCAA suspended the operator’s Permit for Non-Commercial Flight (PNCF) and ordered a comprehensive audit of its operational, maintenance, airworthiness, and flight records. “The NCAA will take further enforcement action in accordance with applicable aviation regulations,” Keyamo stated. The regulator has formally notified the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) of the occurrence and is coordinating with relevant aviation stakeholders, including the aircraft operator and the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) , to establish the full circumstances of the incident.

Keyamo confirmed that security agencies had taken custody of the crew members for questioning as part of ongoing investigations. “I have also spoken to relevant security agencies and I have been assured that the crew are in their custody and they are assisting them with their investigation,” the minister said.

Authorities say the incident will be thoroughly reviewed to prevent future breaches of aviation safety and regulatory procedures. The NCAA reiterated its commitment to maintaining the highest standards of aviation safety, security, and regulatory compliance within the Nigerian aviation sector. “No individual or operator, irrespective of status, will be permitted to circumvent established aviation procedures designed to safeguard lives and maintain the integrity of Nigeria’s airspace system,” the ministry stated.