Pilots Mistook Delta Road for Runway, Aircraft Had No Fault — Keyamo

Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, says the private aircraft that landed on a road in Ogwashi-Uku area of Delta State did not suffer any mechanical failure but mistakenly landed on a construction road mistaken for an airport runway.

The aircraft, identified by registration number N989BC, had reportedly been cleared to land at the Asaba Airport before the unusual incident occurred some weeks ago.

Speaking during an appearance on TVC’s Politics Tonight, Keyamo explained that the airport control tower became alarmed after losing sight of the aircraft moments after authorising its landing.

“The tower in Asaba cleared them to land. After about two minutes, the tower called and said: ‘where is your location? I can’t see you again. I can’t see you on the tarmac.’ As it is known, the tower is always elevated, thus one can see the whole of the runway and the apron,” he said.

According to the minister, the pilots later informed the control tower that they had landed — but not at the airport.

“But they (the pilots) said they had landed, so the tower asked: ‘landed where?’ I can see the whole of the runway and aprons, but you are not there.

“So, they said they landed on a roadway that they saw. It happened that it was a construction site very close to the airport. They saw a beautiful road there that looked like a runway and landed there,” Keyamo stated.

He noted that the aircraft later departed for Lagos after dropping off passengers, an indication that no technical malfunction occurred.

“Before they (relevant agency) could go there and ask questions, they (pilots) took off to Lagos after dropping their passengers. There was no mechanical failure, and that was why they could take off again,” he said.

Keyamo added that the matter has now attracted the attention of security agencies, particularly the Department of State Services (DSS), due to national security implications.

“However, those facts are before the Department of State Service, DSS. It has gone beyond aviation, it is now a security concern. Security agencies are looking into that, and there are reports they will first send to Mr President because it is a matter of national security,” he added.

On concerns raised by the International Air Transport Association (IATA) regarding the high cost of operating airlines in Nigeria, the minister said President Bola Tinubu is considering the formation of a committee involving aviation stakeholders, tax authorities, finance officials, and the Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) to examine the issue.

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