NCAA stops pilots from flying after Asaba incident

The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has suspended the pilots involved in the recent incident at Asaba airport. They are not allowed to operate in Nigerian airspace while investigations are ongoing.

Chris Najomo, the director-general of the NCAA, confirmed that both the pilot-in-command and the second-in-command have been banned from flying. He mentioned this during his speech at the Airport Business Summit (ABSE 2026) on Wednesday in Lagos.

Mr Najomo explained that the suspension is a safety measure. This will help ensure a full investigation into what happened.

He added that the aircraft involved in the incident has also been grounded. The NCAA is now conducting its own investigation after the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) handed over the case.

“The investigation is still ongoing. The aircraft is grounded, and the pilots are suspended from flying in this airspace until we conclude our investigation,” Mr Najomo said.

He highlighted that this decision is important for the integrity of the investigation and aviation safety.

Mr Najomo has been a pilot for 45 years and expressed surprise at the incident. He stated that pilots should not land on a road instead of a runway.

“As a pilot for 45 years, one does not see a road and land on the road. We will look at every possible motive and factor surrounding the incident,” he said.

He also mentioned that the State Security Services is involved in the investigation. They will help find out what led to the incident.

According to him, the pilots will remain suspended and the aircraft grounded until the investigations are completed. The authorities will then decide on the right actions to take.

Mr Najomo also noted that the permit for non-commercial flights for the operator has been suspended.

At the ABSE 2026, Mr Najomo restated the NCAA’s commitment to keeping safety standards high and improving oversight in Nigeria’s aviation sector.

On June 10, a Bombardier Challenger 601-3A, operated by VMO Aero, landed on a road under construction close to Asaba Airport. The preliminary investigation showed that after landing on the road, the pilot later flew to Lagos airport.