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NCAA grounds British, Mexican planes for illegal flights

By on September 22, 2015

The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority has grounded two foreign registered aircraft with immediate effect for allegedly flying illegally into and within the country’s airspace.

The aviation industry regulator said the United Kingdom and Mexico-registered planes had flown into Nigeria without approval from the relevant authorities.

A statement by the Acting General Manager, Public Affairs, NCAA, Mr. Sam Adurogboye, on Sunday, gave the details of the aircraft.

The statement read in part, “The aircraft are: Bombardier 700-100, with registration marks G-RBEN Global Express S/N 9083 operated by Gama Aviation United Kingdom Limited; and Embraer 135 J, with registration marks XA-MHA.

“The operator of the G-RBEN aircraft was found operating in Nigeria’s airspace with falsified flight clearance information and conducting illegal domestic flight operations in Nigeria. Other infractions are conducting illegal commercial revenue flight operations contrary to conditions contained in the Nigerian Civil Aviation Regulations (NCARs) Part 10 and security violations.”

According to the statement, preliminary investigations have revealed that the Embraer 135 jet landed at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, from London, Farnborough without any flight clearance on September 10, 2015.

The NCAA said reports from Air Traffic Controllers indicated that the plane’s crew had informed the ATCs that they possessed a ministerial approval for the flight.

However, on landing, the crew could not produce any ministerial approval as claimed.

The statement read further, “The BD 700-100 is a United Kingdom Air Operators Certificate holder and has been carrying out several domestic operations between Abuja and Lagos without the authority’s permit or certification in accordance with the Nigerian CARs Part 10.

“While further investigation continues, both aircraft remain grounded.

 

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