The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority [NCAA] has suspended all foreign lease aircraft under United Nigeria Airlines following an incident where the airline diverted its Lagos-Abuja flight to Asaba.
Passengers were agitated when the aircraft landed in Asaba instead of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.
A former Director General of the Agency, Engr Benedict Adeyileka, confirmed the latest development in a statement made available to the Media.
Adeyileka said the current DG of NCAA, Captain Musa Nuhu, has the authority to suspend United Airlines while an investigation takes place.
Adeyileka condemned United Airlines’ action, describing it as unprofessional and needing a thorough investigation.
“Just confirmed that their sub-Part G of their AOC is suspended. This means all their foreign registered aircraft are on subpart G.
“If you take the flight from Lagos to Abuja, the Captain is supposed to announce that it is landing in Asaba for whatever reason, but that was not the case.
“The director of the NCAA has the power to suspend that operation pending the investigation on the matter,” he noted.
Meanwhile, in an X post, Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has summoned heads of aviation regulatory agencies over safety concerns in the sector.
The minister said a thorough assessment of recent incidents will be carried out during the meeting.
“Due to safety concerns in the aviation sector expressed by members of the public, I have summoned the heads of the regulatory agencies to my office later today to review the incidents that are the causes of these concerns and to ensure that appropriate steps are taken to forestall future occurrence and to apply sanctions, where necessary, regarding the past incidents,” he tweeted.
