In a surprising turn of events, the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has taken decisive action by suspending all foreign lease aircraft operated by United Nigeria Airlines. This development comes in the wake of an incident where a United Airlines flight, en route from Lagos to Abuja, diverted to Asaba on Sunday, leaving passengers bewildered.
Passengers onboard the flight expressed concern as the aircraft touched down at Asaba International Airport instead of the scheduled destination, Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport (NAIA). Subsequently, reports surfaced indicating the suspension of all wet lease aircraft under United Nigeria Airlines.
Former Director General of the Agency, Benedict Adeyileka, provided exclusive insights in an interview on Monday, confirming the suspension. He conveyed that the current Director General of NCAA, Captain Musa Nuhu, possesses the authority to suspend United Airlines pending a thorough investigation.
Adeyileka strongly criticized the airline’s actions, deeming them unprofessional and emphasizing the need for a comprehensive inquiry. He disclosed, “Just confirmed that their sub-Part G of their AOC is suspended. This means all their foreign registered aircraft are on subpart G.”
He further elaborated on the expected protocol during such situations, emphasizing that if a flight deviates from its planned route, the Captain is obligated to inform passengers of the change. However, in this instance, such communication did not occur.
In light of these developments, the director of the NCAA has wielded the authority to suspend United Airlines’ operations pending a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding the diversion. The suspension reflects the gravity of the situation and underscores the commitment to upholding aviation standards and safety.
CREDIT: Dailypost
