The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA, has halted the operation of all foreign lease aircraft under United Nigeria Airlines shortly after the airline diverted its Lagos-Abuja flight to Asaba on Sunday.
Passengers were alarmed when a United Airlines plane landed at Asaba International Airport instead of the scheduled Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport (NAIA) on Sunday, as reported by DAILY POST.
Subsequently, reports surfaced indicating the suspension of all wet lease aircraft under United Nigeria Airlines.
Benedict Adeyileka, a former Director General of the Agency, confirmed the suspension in an exclusive interview with DAILY POST on Monday. He mentioned that the current DG of NCAA, Captain Musa Nuhu, has the authority to suspend United Airlines pending an investigation.
Adeyileka criticized the airline’s actions, deeming them unprofessional and warranting a comprehensive investigation. He verified that the suspension applied to the sub-Part G of their AOC, affecting all foreign registered aircraft under United Nigeria Airlines.
In the event of a Lagos to Abuja flight diversion, Adeyileka emphasized that the Captain should announce the change, but this was not done in the reported incident. He stressed the authority of the NCAA director to suspend operations pending an investigation into the matter.