Private Jet Crew Detained After Landing on Asaba Road, Says Aviation Minister

|By Adejumo Adekunle –  The private jet crew detained after landing on Asaba road are assisting security agencies with an ongoing investigation, according to Nigeria’s Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo.

The minister said authorities took the action after a private aircraft landed on a concrete road under construction in the Ogwashi-Uku area near Asaba, Delta State.

In a statement posted on X on Wednesday, Keyamo revealed that the crew members are currently in the custody of security agencies. He added that investigators are examining the circumstances surrounding the unusual landing.

According to the minister, the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has already grounded the aircraft and withdrawn the operator’s Permit for Non-Commercial Flight (PNCF). Authorities cited what they described as a serious breach of aviation regulations and security procedures.

Furthermore, Keyamo said the aircraft later departed the Asaba area for Lagos after obtaining the necessary approvals. However, regulators still launched a probe into the incident.

“I have also spoken to relevant security agencies, and I have been assured that the crew are in their custody and they are assisting them with their investigation,” the minister stated.

The private jet crew detained after landing on Asaba road remain under investigation as aviation authorities seek to establish how and why the aircraft touched down on a road project site instead of a designated airstrip.

Meanwhile, officials have not announced whether additional sanctions will follow. Nevertheless, the incident has raised fresh concerns about compliance with aviation safety regulations.

The private jet crew detained after landing on Asaba road continue to cooperate with investigators as inquiries proceed.