Chinedu Eze
The Nigeria Civil Authority (NCAA) has suspended the operating permit of Mattini Airline Services Limited, pending the completion of investigations into the runway incident involving a Challenger CL 601 aircraft, operated by the firm.
This is coming as the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) said it has dispatched its investigators to the scene of the serious incident for investigation purposes.
A private jet operated by the airline, which had departed Abuja with 15 persons on board, overshot the runway while landing at Ibadan Airport on Friday.
There was no fatality in the incident.
In November last year, a similar serious incident happened when a private jet, HS25B with call sign, 5NAMM operated by Flint Aero overshot the runway at Ibadan Airport, but nobody was affected.
A statement issued yesterday by the Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection at the NCAA, Mr. Michael Achimugu, said that the Permit for Non-Commercial Flight (PNCF) of the airline, with the registration number: N580KR would remain suspended, pending the outcome of the ongoing investigation.
The agency said that the suspension was in accordance with Section 32 (4) of the Civil Aviation Act 2022.
The apex regulatory body also hinted that it had further initiated safety and economic audits of all private jet operations in Nigeria.
The statement read 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). 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.”
Also, a statement by the Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection at NSIB, Mrs. Bimbo Oladeji, said investigation into the serious incident involving the Challenger 601-3R aircraft had commenced.
Oladeji also promised that the bureau would release the preliminary report as soon as possible.
According to the statement, the incident occurred at about 10.55 am (local time) with 12 passengers and three crew members onboard.
Oladeji said the aircraft was en route Ibadan from Abuja, but on final approach to landing on Runway 22, it overshot the runway.
She reiterated that there was no fatality, as all 12 passengers and three crew were safely evacuated.
Also, NSIB said that it had deployed “a Go Team” to investigate the serious incident.
“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.
“The bureau will appreciate that the public and press respect the privacy of the people involved and not assume the cause of the serious incident until a formal report is released,” the statement said.
