The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, SAN, has confirmed that security agencies have taken custody of the four crew members of a private aircraft that made a controversial landing on an unfinished road near Asaba, Delta State, before departing without regulatory clearance .
The incident occurred on Wednesday, June 10, 2026, when the aircraft conducted a missed approach while attempting to land at Asaba Airport at approximately 7:43 a.m. local time . The aircraft subsequently landed on a concrete road still under construction in the Ogwashi-Uku area, near Asaba .
According to the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), all four crew members on board safely exited the aircraft and were transported to Asaba by road, with no injuries recorded .
However, the situation took a dramatic turn when preliminary information revealed that the aircraft departed the location at approximately 11:02 GMT and returned to Lagos without obtaining the requisite regulatory approval.
The NCAA further established that Air Traffic Control was notified only after the aircraft had become airborne, implying that the flight departed without the necessary operational clearance.
Keyamo, in a statement issued Thursday by his Special Adviser on Media and Communications, Tunde Moshood, disclosed that he had been in contact with relevant security agencies regarding the incident.
“The Honourable Minister has been in contact with the relevant security agencies and has received assurances that the flight crew are currently in their custody and are fully cooperating with ongoing investigations,” the statement read .
The minister described the incident and the events that followed as “a matter of grave regulatory and security concern”.
Upon the aircraft’s arrival in Lagos, the NCAA immediately grounded the aircraft pending the conclusion of a full investigation.
The regulator has also suspended the operator’s Permit for Non-Commercial Flight (PNCF) and placed the flight under comprehensive regulatory review .
The NCAA is working closely with the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) and other relevant aviation stakeholders to establish the full circumstances surrounding the incident .
As part of its statutory responsibilities, the authority will undertake a thorough review of all operational, airworthiness, maintenance, and flight-related records associated with the aircraft and operator, and will not hesitate to impose further enforcement actions as may be warranted under applicable civil aviation regulations .
The unauthorized departure from the emergency landing site has triggered fresh security concerns within the aviation sector . Reacting to the development, former Military Commandant of Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Group Captain John Ojikutu (retd.), described the incident as a grave security breach.
“Absolutely, that pilot should be arrested by now. The first thing investigators should ask him is who disembarked at that location,” Ojikutu said .
The Federal Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development has reiterated the Federal Government’s unwavering commitment to the highest standards of aviation safety, regulatory compliance, and national security.
“No individual or operator, irrespective of status, will be permitted to circumvent established aviation procedures designed to safeguard lives and maintain the integrity of Nigeria’s airspace system,” Keyamo assured .
The minister pledged that a thorough and transparent investigation will be conducted and that all appropriate actions will be taken based on the findings.
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