Ibadan airport crash: NCAA suspends airline as NSIB begins probe

The Nigeria Civil Authority (NCAA) has suspended the permit of Mattini Airline Services Limited after a private jet operated by the company crash-landed at the Samuel Ladoke Akintola Airport in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.

This was contained in a statement issued by the NCAA Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Michael Achimugu, on Saturday, January 27, 2024.

A private jet operated by the airline which departed Abuja with 15 persons on board overshot the runway while landing at Ibadan airport on Friday.

The Star had reported that the jet missed the runway and crash-landed into the nearby bush.

There was no fatality in the incident.

Achimugu, however, said the suspension would continue until clarifications were made that the conditions of the Permit for Non-Commercial Flight (PNCF) had been adhered to.

He assured the commitment to the safety of air travellers in line with best global practice, adding that the NCAA had begun a safety and economic audit of all private jet operations in Nigeria.

He stated: “NCAA is aware of the runway excursion involving a Challenger CL 601 aircraft, operated by Mattini Airline Services Limited, with registration marks N580KR at Ibadan Airport on 26th January 2024.

“Mattini Airline Services Limited holds a valid Permit for Non-Commercial Flight (PNCF).

READ ALSO: Private jet crash-lands at Ibadan airport

“In line with statutory provisions, the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) has launched an investigation into the occurrence.

“While the NSIB is conducting the safety investigation, the NCAA has initiated an economic inquiry into the operation of the aircraft viz-a-viz the terms and conditions of the PNCF as detailed in its Annexure.

“In the meantime, and in accordance with Sec 32 (4) of the Civil Aviation Act 2022, the NCAA has suspended the PNCF of Mattini Airline Services Limited with immediate effect.”

Meanwhile, the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) said it has commenced an investigation into the incident.

The NSIB, in a statement issued on Saturday by its Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Bimbo Oladeji, said it has deployed a team to investigate the incident.

Oladeji added: “As the investigating agency, NSIB needs and hereby solicits your assistance.

“We want the public to know that we would be amenable to receiving any video clip, relevant evidence, or information any members of the public may have of the serious incident; that can assist us with this investigation.”

She urged the general public and press to respect the privacy of the people involved “and not assume the cause of the serious incident until formal report is released”.

“The Bureau will release the preliminary report as soon as possible,” she said.

It would be recalled that a private jet conveying the Minister of Power, Bayo Adelabu, from Abuja to Ibadan also crash-landed at the airport in November 2023.

The Star