The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA, has suspended the licence of the private jet operator, Mattini Airline Services Limited, whose aircraft overshot the runway on Friday, January 26, at Ibadan airport.
The private jet was conveying 10 persons when it overshot the runway, as firefighters and rescue officials from the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, FAAN, were immediately deployed to the scene.
NCAA in a statement, disclosed the licence suspension, saying it was with immediate effect pending the outcome of investigations into the incident.
The Challenger CL 601 aircraft, registered as N580KR and operated by Mattini Airline Services Limited, departed from Abuja to Samuel Ladoke Akintola Airport in Ibadan before the incident in the late morning hours of Friday.
NCAA announced its intention to conduct a comprehensive safety and economic audit of all private jet operations in Nigeria, emphasising its commitment to ensuring the highest standards in the aviation sector.
The ownership of numerous private jets, linked to both serving and non-serving governors as well as National Assembly members across the country, has come under scrutiny.
These private jet owners have faced accusations of violating both economic and safety regulations set by the regulator.
The Director, Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, NCAA, Michael Achimugu, issued a statement saying it enlisted the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau, NSIB, to conduct a thorough investigation into the Ibadan Airport incident.
While the NSIB is conducting the safety investigation, the NCAA has initiated an economic inquiry into the aircraft’s operation, specifically concerning the terms and conditions of the Permit For Non-commercial Flights, PNCF, as detailed in its documents.
“In the meantime, and in accordance with Sec 32 (4) of the Civil Aviation Act 2022, the NCAA has also suspended the PNCF of Mattini Airline Services Limited with immediate effect.
“The suspension, NCAA said will subsist until a determination is made that the conditions of the PNCF have been adhered to.
“NCAA has further initiated a safety and economic audit of all private jet operations in Nigeria.
“NCAA however assured the traveling public of its utmost commitment to safety and the entrenchment of global best practices.”
The acting Director-General of NCAA, Chris Najomo, in a press conference recently, said that all private jet owners operating commercial services risk losing their licenses for non-compliance.
Najomo said the NCAA would do some sting operations to ensure that operators who are not ready to comply to go and get an Air Operator Certificate cease operations.
It will be recalled that in November 2023, Minister of Power, Bayo Adelabu, narrowly escaped death after a private aircraft, HS25B, conveying him and operated by Flint Aero crash-landed on the runway at the Ibadan airport in the Oyo State capital.
No fatality occurred in the mishap, but the aircraft sustained significant damage.
The flight was said to have departed from Abuja with several high-ranking government officials on board.
It was learned that 10 persons were on board this aircraft as well.
The Nigerian Metrological Agency, NiMET, had issued travel warning based on hazy weather about the time of the incident.
A source said that the aircraft landed short of the threshold with about 50 metres and skidded into a bushy ditch close to the runway.
