NCAA suspends private jet operator’s licence after near-tragic event at Ibadan Airport
The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has suspended the license of a private jet operator, Mattini Airline Services Limited.
This followed an incident where one of their aircraft overshot the runway at the Ibadan airport on Friday.
The Challenger CL 601 aircraft, registered as N580KR, departed from Abuja and was landing at Samuel Ladoke Akintola Airport in Ibadan when the incident occurred at 11 a.m.
The aircraft had on board 10 persons, believed to be very important personalities (VIPs).
Firefighters and rescue officials from the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria were promptly deployed to the scene.
In a statement on Saturday, the Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection at NCAA, Michael Achimugu, said the license suspension takes immediate effect, pending the outcome of investigations into the incident.
He announced the NCAAA’s intention to conduct a thorough safety and economic audit of all private jet operations in Nigeria, emphasizing its dedication to upholding the highest standards in the aviation sector.
Achimugu stated that the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) has been tasked with conducting a comprehensive investigation into the Ibadan Airport incident.
While the NSIB conducts the safety investigation, the NCAA has launched an economic inquiry into the aircraft’s operation, saying that the investigation focuses specifically on the terms and conditions of the PNCF as outlined 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 travelling public of its utmost commitment to safety and the entrenchment of global best practices,” the statement read.
