Private jet operator suspended after ‘missed approach’, unauthorized escape to Lagos  

The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has grounded a privately operated aircraft and suspended the operator’s Permit for Non-Commercial Flight (PNCF) following a ‘missed approach’ while attempting to land at  Asaba and a subsequent unauthorised flight back to Lagos.

A ‘missed approach’ is an aviation procedure where a pilot discontinues an approach to landing and climbs away from the runway. It is a heavily practised manoeuvre designed to ensure an aircraft safely avoids terrain and other traffic.

According to a preliminary report signed by Michael Achimugu, Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection at the NCAA, the incident occurred on Wednesday, June 10, 2026.

The regulatory body is treating the subsequent departure from the emergency scene as a severe violation of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Regulations (Nig. CARs).

Preliminary information indicates that the aircraft, carrying four crew members, attempted to land at Asaba Airport at approximately 07:43 local time but executed a missed approach due to yet-unspecified operational variables.

Following the aborted landing, the flight crew managed to touch down on a roadway in the Ogwashi-Uku area near the Delta State capital.

Reports from first responders at the scene confirmed that all four crew members exited the aircraft safely without injuries and were evacuated to Asaba by road.

Achimugu explained in a statement that the core of the NCAA’s enforcement stems from what occurred after the emergency landing.

He revealed that the aircraft subsequently took off from the roadway location at approximately 11:02 GMT and flew back to Lagos without obtaining the requisite regulatory or safety approvals.

Furthermore, Air Traffic Control (ATC) was kept in the dark and was only notified of the flight after the aircraft had already become airborne from the highway.

Upon the aircraft’s unauthorised arrival at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos, NCAA enforcement teams immediately grounded the hull pending a comprehensive, multi-layered investigation.

The apex regulator has immediately suspended the operator’s Permit for Non-Commercial Flight (PNCF), and the flight crew have been stripped of operational clearances and placed under strict regulatory review.

A formal notification has been forwarded to the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) to initiate a parallel accident investigation.

The NCAA is currently coordinating with the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), the NSIB, and the affected operator to reconstruct the cockpit decision-making timeline.

Achimugu reiterated that the authority will thoroughly audit all operational, airworthiness, maintenance, and flight-related logs, stressing that further severe enforcement actions will be meted out to defend the regulatory sanctity of Nigerian airspace.