Keyamo Assures Thorough Investigation as NCAA Grounds Aircraft Over Emergency Road Landing Near Asaba
The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has assured Nigerians that a thorough and transparent investigation will be conducted into an aviation incident involving a private aircraft that missed its approach to Asaba Airport and later departed without regulatory clearance.
Tunde Moshood, the Minister’s Special Adviser on Media and Communications who made this known in a press release said the aircraft, which was attempting to land at the Asaba Airport at about 7:43 a.m. on 10th June, 2026 , reportedly failed to access the airport runway and instead landed safely on a concrete road still under construction in the Ogwashi-Uku area near Asaba, Delta State.
According to preliminary information made available to the Minister, all four crew members on board disembarked safely and were transported by road to Asaba. No injuries or fatalities were recorded.
Reacting to the development, Keyamo expressed gratitude that no lives were lost but described the incident and subsequent actions by the crew as a serious regulatory and security concern.
The situation became more complicated when the aircraft reportedly departed the location at about 11:02 GMT and returned to Lagos without obtaining the necessary regulatory approval. Authorities disclosed that Air Traffic Control was only informed after the aircraft had already become airborne, indicating that the flight operated without the required operational clearance.
Following the incident, the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) immediately grounded the aircraft upon its arrival in Lagos pending the outcome of investigations.
The NCAA has also suspended the operator’s Permit for Non-Commercial Flight (PNCF) and commenced a comprehensive review of the circumstances surrounding both the emergency landing and the unauthorized departure.
Aviation authorities are working closely with the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), the aircraft operator and other stakeholders to determine the full details of the incident.
As part of the investigation, the NCAA will examine all operational, maintenance, airworthiness and flight-related records connected to the aircraft and its operator, with the possibility of additional enforcement actions if violations of civil aviation regulations are established.
The Minister also disclosed that he had been in contact with relevant security agencies, which confirmed that the flight crew are in their custody and are cooperating with investigators.
Reaffirming the Federal Government’s commitment to aviation safety, regulatory compliance and national security, Keyamo stressed that no operator would be allowed to disregard established aviation procedures designed to protect lives and safeguard Nigeria’s airspace.
He assured the public that a thorough and transparent investigation would be carried out and that all necessary actions would be taken based on the findings of the probe.
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