Airline’s suspension over Abuja-bound flight arrival in Asaba lifted – NCAA

The restriction imposed on United Nigeria Airlines’ Part G Operation Specifications has been lifted by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA).

This follows the NCAA’s suspension of the UNA Part G Operation Specifications after one of its planes on Sunday dropped off passengers to Asaba International Airport instead of the intended Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport (NAIA), Abuja.

The airline had attributed the flight’s diversion from Abuja to Asaba, the capital of Delta State, to “poor weather.”

The NCAA, however, noted that its inquiry into the regrettable occurrence indicated inadequate interaction between the Lessor’s OCC and the Lessee’s OCC, which omitted required flight briefing from the moment of departure, in a statement dated December 1, 2023, made available to Channels Television.

The agency stated that the investigation also showed that the cabin and cockpit crews had not met for a preflight briefing prior to takeoff, that United Airlines’ OCC flight monitoring system did not keep an eye on the aircraft classified as “wet lease aircraft” under the company’s Operation Specifications Part G, and that the crews had not followed the approved flight plan of the air traffic controller.

The NCAA then suggested that the authorised flight plans be provided to the lessor and that the required briefings be held with a lessee dispatcher present.

Additional recommendations include holding appropriate briefings for both the flight crew and the cabin crew prior to takeoff; strictly adhering to flight following procedures by the flight crew, the lessor, and the lessee’s OCC; and providing the cockpit crew with copies of all filed flight plans via the lessee’s OCC.