The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has commenced investigation into the circumstances surrounding United Nigeria Airlines’ diversion of flight destined to Abuja to Asaba last Sunday
The regulatory authority in a statement signed by its Director General, Captain Musa Nuhu, said it has commenced investigation into the circumstances surrounding United Nigeria flight NUA 0506 to Asaba and the confusion it has created in the public domain.
“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,” it stated.
When the incident happened on Sunday, the airline issued a statement and explained that it temporarily diverted its flight NUA 0504 to Asaba due to poor destination weather.
The Head, Corporate Communications for the airline, Achilleus-Chud Uchegbu, said in a statement that the pilot of the aircraft was aware of the temporary diversion and was properly briefed but that a wrong announcement was made by cabin crew upon landing safely in Asaba, creating confusion among the passengers.
However, following this incident, there were discrepancies in the cause of the diversion when Air Traffic Controllers countered this claim, insisting that there was favorable weather conditions in Abuja at the time of the diversion.
After a post-incident meeting, the NCAA said the airline’s explanation is unacceptable, prompting the suspension of its wet lease aircraft pending further investigation.
The airline has its own aircraft, registered in Nigeria, four ERJ 145, but one is grounded, while three are operating.
Feelers from the airline indicated that the suspension of the aircraft would hurt the operations of the new carrier, especially as it is happening in this high season close to Christmas holiday.
“It will affect our operation. It came at the wrong time. Today we had passenger crisis, flights from Abuja to Asaba cancelled and from Lagos to other destinations. Minister was angry with the incident. Issue sanctions after investigation and this might have prompted NCAA to take punitive measures,” the source said.
