NCAA grounds two foreign aircraft over airspace violations

THE Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has grounded two foreign registered aircraft with immediate effect over airspace violation.

The aircraft are Bombardier 700-100 with registration marks G-RBEN Global express S/N 9083 operated by Gama Aviation, United Kingdom (UK) Limited and Embraer 135BJ with registration marks XA-MHA.

The operator of G-RBEN aircraft was found operating in Nigeria’s airspace with falsified flight clearance information and conducting illegal domestic flight operations in Nigeria. Other infractions discovered were conducting illegal commercial revenue flight operations contrary to conditions contained in Nigeria Civil Aviation Regulations (NCARs) Part 10 and other security violations.

Preliminary investigations, according to NCAA, showed that the Embraer 135BJ was reported to have landed at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, from London without any flight clearance on September 10, 2015.

“Reports from the Air Traffic Controllers (ATC) indicated that the crew informed them that they possess a ministerial approval for the flight. However, on landing, the crew could not produce any ministerial approval as claimed”, NCAA said.