The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has grounded a private aircraft following an unusual incident in which the plane mistakenly landed on the Asaba–Ogwashi-Uku Expressway in Delta State instead of the Asaba International Airport.
The incident occurred on Wednesday when the aircraft reportedly attempted to land at the airport but executed a missed approach before touching down on a concrete section of the expressway that is currently under construction.
Eyewitnesses and motorists expressed shock as the aircraft descended and landed on the busy roadway, creating a scene that attracted significant public attention.
According to aviation authorities, all four crew members on board escaped unharmed. Following the incident, the crew was transported by road to Asaba.
The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, , disclosed that the aircraft subsequently took off from the expressway without obtaining the necessary regulatory clearance and returned to Lagos.
In response, the NCAA has grounded the aircraft and suspended the operator's non-commercial flight permit pending the outcome of investigations.
The aviation regulator has also launched a full-scale investigation to determine the circumstances surrounding the mistaken landing and the unauthorized takeoff, with authorities expected to establish whether any operational, procedural, or safety violations occurred.
The incident has raised fresh concerns about aviation safety compliance and adherence to established flight regulations within Nigeria's airspace.
