Flight diversion: NCAA sanctions United Nigeria

Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority has launched an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the diversion of a Lagos-Abuja bound flight to Asaba on Sunday.

NCAA has however suspended the operations of two wet-leased aircraft in the fleet of the airline.

The suspension was said to have been communicated to the airline via a letter, on Monday.

There was confusion in the nation’s Aviation sector when the UNA flight 0506 heading for Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, from the Murtala Muhammed Airport terminal two (MMA2), Lagos, landed in Asaba, Delta State.

The airline’s management later issued a statement claiming that the diversion was due to weather while the flight crew announced the flight had landed in Abuja.

NCAA later intervened by probing the circumstances surrounding the diversion.

Information from the Air Traffic Control was said to have contradicted the statement of the airline that the diversion was due to weather.

Director-General Civil Aviation, Capt. Musa Nuhu, said in a statement that the authority had launched a probe into the circumstances surrounding the incident and “the confusion it has created in the public domain.”

He said, “However, preliminary steps have been taken pending conclusions of ongoing investigation. The Authority wishes to reassure the traveling public that it will leave no stone unturned as it has always done in the past to ensure continued safety of the aviation industry.”