The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA, took swift action by suspending all foreign lease aircraft under United Nigeria Airlines following the airline’s unusual diversion of its Lagos-Abuja en route flight to Asaba on Sunday.
Passengers were taken aback when a United Airlines aircraft touched down at Asaba International Airport, deviating from its scheduled arrival at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport (NAIA) in Abuja.
The decision to suspend all wet lease aircraft under United Nigeria Airlines was made in the wake of this incident, as confirmed by former Director General of the Agency, Benedict Adeyileka, in an exclusive conversation with Media Talk Africa on Monday.
Adeyileka revealed that the incumbent DG of NCAA, (Captain Musa Nuhu), has the authority to suspend United Airlines pending a thorough investigation. He expressed strong disapproval of the airline’s unprofessional conduct, emphasizing the need for a comprehensive probe into the matter.
“It has been confirmed that their sub-Part G of their AOC is suspended. This means all their foreign registered aircraft are on subpart G,” Adeyileka explained, highlighting the grave nature of the violation.
He pointed out the standard procedure where the Captain is expected to notify passengers if there is a change in the landing destination, which was evidently overlooked in this case. “The director of the NCAA has the power to suspend that operation pending the investigation,” he added.
