BREAKING: NCAA suspends pilots, grounds jet over Asaba road landing

The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has suspended the pilots involved in the Asaba aircraft road-landing incident and grounded the jet pending the conclusion of investigations into the unusual occurrence.

NCAA Director-General Capt. Chris Najomo disclosed the sanctions on Wednesday, July 15, 2026, during the Airport Business Summit in Lagos, confirming that the aircraft’s Permit to Fly had also been suspended.

The regulatory action follows the landing of a chartered jet on a road under construction near Asaba Airport in Delta State last month, an incident that raised safety concerns within Nigeria’s aviation sector.

The Nigeria Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) initially commenced a safety investigation after the incident, but Najomo said the regulatory aspect had now been transferred to the NCAA, which has launched its own independent inquiry.

The Department of State Services (DSS) has also joined the investigation as authorities examine the circumstances surrounding the landing.

“The investigation is still ongoing. The NSIB has handed the investigation to us, the NCAA, and we are conducting our own inquiry. As we speak, the aircraft has been grounded, the Permit to Fly has been suspended, and the pilots have also been suspended pending the outcome of our investigation,” Najomo said.

The NCAA chief described the incident as highly unusual, saying his decades of aviation experience made the occurrence difficult to understand.

“As a pilot with 45 years of experience, I will not see a road and land on it,” he said.

Najomo added that investigators were considering different possibilities surrounding the incident, noting that the findings would determine the next steps.

“We are also looking at other possible motives. The DSS has become involved and is carrying out its own investigation too. Until the report is released, that remains the position,” he said.

The incident has prompted renewed discussions about aviation safety standards, pilot decision-making and regulatory oversight within Nigeria’s air transport industry.

Speaking at the summit, Najomo also assured aviation operators that the NCAA would continue to address concerns over monopoly and anti-competitive practices in the sector.

He said the regulator’s responsibility was to encourage fair competition, support airline sustainability, protect passengers and ensure reasonable charges across the industry.