The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) on Monday said it has commenced investigation to unravel the circumstances that resulted in the diversion of a Lagos–Abuja bound flight by United Nigeria Airlines flight NUA 0506 to Asaba that has caused ripples in the industry since Sunday, November 26th as passengers recounted harrowing experiences of missing schedule engagements among others.
Director General, Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority NCAA, Captain Musa Nuhu in an electronic statement on Monday said, ‘However, preliminary steps have been taken pending conclusions of the ongoing investigation. The Authority wishes to reassure the traveling public that it will leave no stone unturned as it has always done in the past to ensure continued safety of the aviation industry.
United Nigeria Airlines had on Sunday attributed the diversion of the aircraft to bad weather.
It spokesman Achilleus-Chud Uchegbu said “Flight 0504, operating from the MMA2 in Lagos enroute Abuja on Sunday, November 26, 2023, was temporarily diverted to the Asaba International Airport due to poor destination weather.
The airline head of Corporate Communications said, “At all material time, the Pilot of the aircraft was aware of the temporary diversion and was properly briefed. However, a wrong announcement was made by the cabin crew upon landing safely in Asaba, creating confusion among the passengers.
Our correspondent gathered on Monday in Lagos that following the incident, the NCAA has temporarily suspended the operations of all wet-leased aircraft in the airline’s fleet pending the conclusion of the investigation.