THE Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has suspended Mattini Airline Services Limited’s Permit for Non-Commercial Flight (PNCF) following a runway excursion involving its Challenger CL 601 aircraft with ten people on board in Ibadan yesterday.
The NCAA, in a statement signed by its Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Michael Achimugu, stated that the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) has initiated an investigation into the incident in accordance with legislative procedures.
The suspension will remain in effect until the agency determines that the PNCF’s demands have been met.
Achimugu added that, “NCAA has further initiated a safety and economic audit of all private jet operations in Nigeria. NCAA wishes to assure the travelling public of its utmost commitment to safety and the entrenchment of global best practices.”
The statement reads in part: “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. 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.”
The jet with the registration number N580KR missed the runway and went into the neighbouring woods.
Firefighters and rescue personnel from the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) were quickly dispatched to the incident. However, no deaths or casualties were documented.
“It was a private plane from Abuja. It landed safely but overshot the runway. There was no casualty,” a spokesperson for the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Carol Adekotujo.
