Ibadan runway excursion: NCAA suspends airline permit as NSIB begins probe

The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has suspended the permit of the private jet, which overshot the runway of Samuel Ladoke Akintola Airport in Ibadan Oyo State on Friday even as the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) has commenced a probe of the incident.

The accident involved a Bombardier Challenger aircraft with American registration number: N580KR, type CL60 which departed from the Nnamdi

Azikiwe International Airport (NAIA) Abuja to Ibadan.

The plane had on board 15 occupants comprising 12 passengers and three crew members.

However, there was no death or injury as the passengers were safely disembarked from the bush area while firefighters were swiftly mobilised to the scene.

The incident was coming two months after a similar incident occurred at the same airport.

The NCAA while confirming the latest incident in a statement through its

Director, Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Michael Achimugu, said NCAA has initiated enquiry into the operation of the aircraft, which holds a valid Permit for Non-Commercial Flight (PNCF).

This implies that the aircraft was not permitted to operate, hire and reward otherwise known as commercial charter operation.

Following the incident, the NCAA suspended the permit of Mattini Airline, operator of the aircraft, pending the determination of the conditions upon which the aircraft operated.

The statement said: “NCAA is aware of the runway excursion involving a Challenger CL 601 aircraft, operated by Mattini Airline Services Limited, with registration marks N580KR at Ibadan Airport on 26th January, 2024.”

“In line with statutory provisions, the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) has launched an investigation into the occurrence.

“While the NSIB is conducting the safety investigation, the NCAA has initiated an economic inquiry into the operation of the aircraft viz-a-viz the terms and conditions of the PNCF as detailed in its Annexure.

“In the meantime, and in accordance with Sec 32 (4) of the Civil Aviation Act 2022, the NCAA has suspended the PNCF of Mattini Airline Services Limited with immediate effect.

The NSIB in a statement by its Director Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Mrs Bimbo Olawunmi Oladeji, said it has deployed a ‘Go Team’ to investigate the incident.

“As the investigating agency, NSIB needs and hereby solicits for your assistance. We want the public to know that we would be amenable to receiving any video clip, relevant evidence, or information any members of the public may have of the serious incident; that can assist us with this investigation.”

“The Bureau will appreciate that the general public and press respect the privacy of the people involved and NOT assume the cause of the serious incident until a formal report is released.

“The Bureau will release the preliminary report as soon as possible,” she said.