The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) on Wednesday grounded a private aircraft and suspended the operator’s permit after the plane made an emergency landing on a highway near Asaba, Delta State, and subsequently pulled off what the regulator described as an unauthorized departure from the scene without regulatory approval.
The details were contained in a preliminary report released on Wednesday by the NCAA and signed by Michael Achimugu, the Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection.
This regulatory action follows a video of the dramatic highway landing that quickly went viral on social media.
According to the Authority, it received initial reports regarding “an occurrence involving a privately operated aircraft in the vicinity of Asaba, Delta State, on Wednesday, June 10, 2026.”
Explaining the sequence of events, the NCAA noted that the plane ran into difficulties while trying to touch down at the Asaba Airport.
“Available information indicates that the aircraft conducted a missed approach at approximately 0743 local time while attempting to land at Asaba,” the Authority stated.
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The pilot then forced a landing on an under-construction roadway in the Ogwashi-Uku area near the Delta State capital.
“Subsequently, the aircraft reportedly landed on a roadway in the Ogwashi-Uku area near Asaba. Reports received from personnel at the scene indicate that all occupants safely exited the aircraft and were transported to Asaba by road,” the statement said.
“The aircraft had four (4) crew members on board. At this time, no injuries to passengers or crew have been reported,” it added.
The situation took a controversial turn when preliminary findings showed that the aircraft took off from the highway about three hours later and flew back to Lagos completely bypassing the necessary regulatory green light.
“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 statement said.
The aviation body revealed that Air Traffic Control was allegedly informed only after the plane was already airborne, a move it labeled a direct breach of aviation laws that has now triggered an official probe.
“This action constitutes a violation of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Regulations (Nig. CARs) and is currently under investigation by the Authority,” it said.
As an immediate response, the NCAA impounded the aircraft as soon as it landed in Lagos, stating that it will remain grounded until investigations are concluded.
Furthermore, the flight crew members have been hit with a regulatory suspension.
“The flight crew have 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,” it said.
The NCAA added that it has formally briefed the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) and is collaborating with key aviation stakeholders to unravel the full details of the incident.
In the meantime, the operator’s clearance has been pulled.
“In the interim, the NCAA has suspended the operator’s permit for Non-Commercial Flight (PNCF),” it stated.
The agency announced it will launch a thorough review of all maintenance, operational, airworthiness, and flight logs associated with both the aircraft and the operator.
Reiterating its stance on air safety, the NCAA emphasized that it will not tolerate breaches of industry rules.
“The NCAA remains committed to maintaining the highest standards of aviation safety, security, and regulatory compliance within the Nigerian aviation sector,” the Authority stated.
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