The Nation Newspaper

Tag: NCAA

  • NCAA suspends First Nation Airline’s licence

    THE Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has suspended the Air Operators Certificate (AOC) of First Nation Airways indefinitely, its spokesman Sam Adurogboye said yesterday.

    According to the NCAA , the suspension was conveyed to the airline via a letter with reference dated May 11, signed by the NCAA Director General.

    The letter titled:”  Notice of suspension of air operators certificate” ,  was delivered to the airline on Friday and First Nation Airways has acknowledged receipt.

    The suspension, the NCAA said,  was sequel to the flagrant and continuous violation of the terms and conditions of issuance of its AOC by the airline, thereby carrying out unauthorised and illegal operations.

    The letter stated that when the AOC of First Nation Airways expired, the airline did not have at least two airworthy aircraft capable of servicing its approved schedule as required by Part 9.1.1.6(b)(2) (ii) of Nigerian Civil Aviation Regulation (Nig.CARS) 2015.

    Consequently, the airline’s Air Operators Certificate (AOC) was, upon renewal, restricted to non-scheduled operation (charter) only.

    However, First Nation Airways embarked on scheduled operations with continuous advertisement of its services and sold tickets at its check-in counters in Lagos and Abuja airports.

    The authority had earlier notified the airline that it was investigating these violations. Subsequently, by a letter dated August 31, 2017, the airline was directed to stop the illegal operations forthwith, warning that failure to desist would lead to a suspension of its operating authorisation.

    On further investigation, it was discovered that the airline had disregarded warnings and continued with the unauthorised and illegal operations in violation of its AOC terms and conditions of issuance.

    This is contrary to the provisions of Part 9.1.1.4(d) of the Nig.CARS 2015, which provides that “Each AOC holder shall at all times, continue in compliance with the AOC terms and conditions of issuance, and maintenance requirements in order to hold that certificate.”

    The authority, therefore, noted that, pursuant to Section 35(2),(3) (a) (ii) and (4) of the Civil Aviation Act, 2006, First Nation Airways was no longer fit to operate air transport business under the authority of the AOC.

    Accordingly, the authority said the airline’s AOC has been suspended indefinitely, with effect from May 11, 2018, when it received the notice.

    The operators of the airline are expected to return the AOC to the authority’s Director of Operations and Training within seven days of receiving the letter.

     

  • NCAA suspends FirstNation operations Airways over “illegal operations

    The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has suspended the Air Operators Certificate (AOC) of First Nation Airways indefinitely.
    Spokesman of NCAA, Sam Adurogboye disclosed this on Sunday.
    According to the NCAA , the suspension was conveyed to the Airline via a letter with reference no. NCAA/DG/CSLA/RM/1-06/18/2304 dated 11th May, 2018, signed by the Director General.
    The letter titled:” NOTICE OF SUSPENSION OF AIR OPERATORS CERTIFICATE” , was delivered to the Airline on Friday, 11th May, 2018 and First Nation Airways has acknowledged receipt.
    The suspension, the NCAA said is sequel to the flagrant and continuous violation of the terms and conditions of issuance of it AOC by the Airline thereby carrying out unauthorised and illegal operations.
    The letter revealed that when the AOC of First Nation Airways expired, the airline did not have at least two (2) airworthy aircraft capable of servicing its approved schedule as required by Part 9.1.1.6(b)(2) (ii) of Nigerian Civil Aviation Regulation (Nig.CARS) 2015.
    Consequently, the Airline’s Air Operators Certificate (AOC) was, upon renewal, restricted to non-scheduled operation, (Charter) only.
    However, First Nation Airways embarked on scheduled operations with continuous advertisement of its services and sold tickets at its Check-in counters in Lagos and Abuja Airports.
    The Authority had earlier notified the Airline that it was investigating these violations. Subsequently, by a letter dated 31st August 2017, the Airline was directed to stop the illegal operations forthwith, warning that failure to desist would lead to a suspension of its operating authorisation.
    On further investigation, it was discovered that the Airline had disregarded all warnings and continued with the unauthorised and illegal operations in violation of its AOC terms and conditions of issuance.
    This is contrary to the provisions of Part 9.1.1.4(d) of the Nig.CARS 2015 which provides that “Each AOC holder shall at all times, continue in compliance with the AOC terms and conditions of issuance, and maintenance requirements in order to hold that certificate.”
    The Authority has therefore determined that, pursuant to Section 35(2),(3) (a) (ii) and (4) of the Civil Aviation Act, 2006, First Nation Airways is no longer fit to operate air transport business under the authority of the AOC.
    Accordingly, the Airline’s AOC has been suspended indefinitely, with effect from the 11th May, 2018, when it received the notice.
    In addition, the operators of the Airline are expected to return the AOC to the Authority’s Director of Operations and Training within seven (7) days of receiving the letter.
    However, anytime the Airline demonstrates ability and willingness to comply with the extant regulations, the Authority shall review the Airline’s operations and restore the AOC to enable it commence operations.
    Adurogboye said :” The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) wishes to restate its zero tolerance for violations of the Nig.CARS and shall continue to enforce compliance through application of appropriate sanctions for any infractions. “

  • NCAA orders carriers to comply with U.S directive

    The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has issued an All Operators Letter (AOL) 070 requiring mandatory compliance with the United States Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Emergency Airworthiness Directive by all operators in Nigeria, its spokesman, Sam Adurogboye said yesterday in Lagos.

    According to him, the AOL was endorsed by Kayode Ajiboye on behalf of the Director-General, NCAA Muhtar Usman in the letter dated April 23, 2018  and addressed to all airlines and aircraft owners for immediate compliance.

    The issuance, he explained in a statement, was the aftermath of a recent incident involving a South West Airlines (American Carrier) in which one of its engines exploded mid-air.

    He said upon the receipt of FAA Emergency Airworthiness Directive AD 2018-09-51, the NCAA swung into action by carrying out a review of all the airlines to determine the operators of aircraft type with CFM56-7B engines that are essentially affected by the circular.

    He said investigations by NCAA revealed that two domestic carriers, which he did not name have the aircraft type in question in their fleet.

    Affirming that there is no cause for worry, Adurogboye said the aircraft were yet to attain 30,000 flight cycles.

    He said: “But, the good news is that the aircraft are yet to reach the 30,000 cycles to which the Emergency Airworthiness Directive requires immediate ultrasonic inspection of the fan blades within 20 days.

    “However the Authority went ahead to notify all the Nigerian operators about this development to enable them carry out the required inspection when it is eventually due.

    “Nigeria air travellers are assured that the Authority will continue to enforce compliance with Safety Regulations at all times for a safer aviation and any violations will be treated in line with the provisions of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Regulations (NCARs).”

  • Associated Airline crash: NCAA appeals high court verdict

    The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has appealed a Federal High Court judgment,which awarded damages against it over the Associated Airlines plane crash.

    Through its counsel Chief Emeka Okpoko (SAN), NCAA is contending that the trial judge erred in law when he held that it was liable.

    The lower court held: “From the evidence of the principal witness, Ese Falae, the widow, the fact of the case speaks for itself. The first defendant, the Associated Aviation Nigeria Limited, and the second defendant Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority, cannot exonerate themselves from the circumstance surrounding the crash of the aircraft that claimed the life of Deji Falae. In my view, the plaintiffs succeed in their claims against the defendants. Judgment is hereby entered in their favour as per their claims.”

    Complaining on the trial court’s decision, the appellant is arguing that the court failed to see that the investigation conducted by the Accident Investigation Bureau (AIB) vested with the statutory duty to determine the cause of the accident did not indict the NCAA.

    The appellant said the Court did not consider that the aircraft was airworthy before the crash and was issued airworthiness certificate which was tendered in evidence.

    +The appellant also argues in the particulars upon which the appeal is brought that the court failed to properly consider that the Aircraft was insured as at the time of the crash and consequently the plaintiffs are entitled to claim from the Insurer and also that the court failed to properly consider among others, that before that crash, the charter Aircraft had flown three times and nothing ever happened.

    The appellant also contends in ground two that the trial Judge erred in law when he granted all the reliefs sought in his judgment without due regard to the provisions of the Civil Aviation Act.  On the particulars of error, the appellant argued that the court failed to see that aviation claims can only be made in strict compliance with the Civil Aviation Act and that the court failed to properly consider that aviation claims are governed by the Civil Aviation Act and not common law, Fatal Accident Act 1846 and Fatal Accident Law of Lagos State. It also stated that the court failed to see that an aviation case is sui generis and, consequently, governed by the provisions of the Civil Aviation Act and that there is no law either statutory or judicial in support of the decision of the trial court.

    On ground three, the appellant contends that the trial Judge erred in law in failing to weigh and ascribe probative value to all the evidence properly placed before him against the second defendant/appellant and occasioned a miscarriage of justice against the seond defendant/appellant.

    Giving the particulars of error, the appellant noted that the court failed to see that he has a duty to put the evidence on two sides of an imaginary scale and weigh them to see which one preponderates in terms of quality, not quantity against the second defendant/appellant.  Some of the evidence the appellant believes the court failed to consider include:  the investigation conducted by the Accident Investigation Bureau (AIB) vested with the statutory duty to determine cause of the accident did not indict the second defendant; the aircraft was insured as at the time of the crash and consequently the plaintiffs are entitled to claim from the insurer; before that crash the charter aircraft was airworthy and had flown three times and nothing happened; the aircraft was airworthy and was issued airworthiness certificate which was tendered in evidence; that the second defendant was not negligent at all since it fully made regulations for the operation of aircrafts as it is statutorily required of it; and that the plaintiff is not entitled to any other relief than as provided in the Civil Aviation Act.

    The appellant, among other things, also contended that the trial Judge erred in law when he gave judgment outside the constitutionally required period without a new issue of law raised during the re-adoption of the final addresses and that he also erred when he held that the doctrine of res ipsa loquitur applied to establish failure to exercise duty of care to the extent that concerns the second defendant/ (appellant).

  • AIB attributes poor crew resource management as cause of crash

    ……Says pilot should have aborted take – off

    …….Fingers poor oversight duties by NCAA

     

    Accident Investigation Bureau (AIB) on Wednesday attributed poor co- ordination between the two pilots that operated the ill – fated Associated Aviation October 3, 2013 as the cause of the crash saying the crew failed to implement principles of crew resource management.
    The AIB, while releasing the final accident report said the pilots should have aborted take – off the aircraft following indications from the aircraft that some components were not properly activated.
    Besides, the failings of the crew, the AIB also fingered poor regulatory oversight duties by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority ( NCAA) as another causal factor for the crash.

    Speaking yesterday at a briefing in Lagos , AIB , Commissioner and Chief Executive Officer, Akin Olateru apologized for the delay in the release of the accidents reports saying probe of air accidents is not to indict any agency but to avoid reoccurrence.
    Olateru also fingered poor company as part of the cause of the crash.
    The Associated Aviation Embraer 120 aircraft with 20 passengers on board was conveying the remains of former Ondo State Governor, Chief Olusegun Agagu for burial in Akure.

    Besides, the Associated Aviation crash report, the AIB also released five final reports involving Bristow Helicopters , NCAT trainer aircraft , Westlink Aviation and NAHCO loader and AeroContractors Aircraft .
    Olateru said since January 2017 the AIB, has released 16 accident reports.
    The Accident Investigation Bureau said the six final accident and serious incident reports occurred in the Nigeria aviation industry between 2009 and 2014.

    Among the six reports released were two accidents and four serious incidents.

    Another accident report released was that of Westlink Airlines Limited Piper Aztec 23-250 aircraft with the registration number 5N-BGZ, which occurred at Matseri Village,Bunza Local Government Area of Kebbi State on August 11, 2014.

    The serious incidents were Aero Contractor’s DHC-8-400 aircraft incident with registration 5N-BPT, with the Nigerian Aviation Handling Company (NAHCO) baggage loader on April 29, 2014 and another incident involving two Bristow Helicopters aircraft, Bell 412 helicopters with Registration numbers 5N-BGS, and 5N-BDD, at the Addax Base Helipad, Calabar, Cross River State, Nigeria on 12th November, 2009.

    Also covered were the serious incidents involving two aircraft belonging to Nigerian College of Aviation Technology (NCAT). They were the Tampico Club TB9 with the registration number 5N-CBE, which serious incident occurred at Zaria Aerodrome, Kaduna State on October 4, 2012 and another serious incident involving Tampico TB–9 Aircraft with registration number 5N-CBI that occurred at the same Zaria Aerodrome on May 23, 2012.

    The report on the Associated crash cited as its causal factor the decision of the crew to continue the take-off despite the abnormal number two Propeller indication warning and the low altitude stall as a result of low thrust at start of roll for take-off from number two engine caused by an undetermined malfunction of the propeller control unit.

    On the contributory factor, the AIB’s release fingered the aircraft being rotated before attaining Vector One the decision to continue the take-off with flap configuration warning and auto-feather warning at low speed, poor professional conduct of the flight crew, inadequate application of Crew Resource Management (CRM) principles, poor company culture and inadequate regulatory oversight.

    AIB released four safety recommendations on the crash, were all directed at NCAA.

    AIB called on NCAA to enhance the enforcement of the regulations with regards to the implementation of operators approved personnel training programme and intensification of its safety oversight function on the airline to ensure that flight operations were carried out in accordance with approved operations manuals in line with the provisions of Nigeria Civil Aviation Regulations (NCARs).

    Others were improved safety oversight on the affected carrier to ensure staff welfare issues, and that remunerations were settled promptly and the establishment of Confidential Voluntary Reporting System, which must be implemented in line with the State Safety Program.

    On the two Bristow Helicopters serious incidents at the Addax Base Helipad, Calabar in Cross River State on November 12, 2009, like Associated Airways, the bureau also made four safety recommendations.

    AIB recommended that the regulatory agency should ensure that Calabar Base Helipad Manual of APDNL be reviewed to comply with Nigeria Civil Aviation Regulations (NCARs), APDNL should ensure that helicopters are properly parked in designated locations, APDNL should ensure that Helicopter Landing Officers (HLOs) are always present during aircraft operations and the agency should ensure that helicopter flight operations at the Helipad were done in accordance with Nig. CARs.

    AIB in the report, however, stated that NCAA responded to the safety recommendations of the bureau and implemented them.

    On the Aero Contractors incident with NAHCO aviance baggage loader vehicle fleet L3-23 and a parked Bombardier DHC-8-400 aircraft of Aero Contractors,

    AIB in its report said the NAHCO personnel who operated the baggage loader vehicle was neither employed to operate the vehicle, nor was he authorised to do so.

    The report observed that the rostered driver of the baggage loader vehicle was not available at the time of the occurrence and cited the non-adherence to NAHCO Safe Operating Procedures by the Ramp manager as one of the contributory factors to the incident.

    It also made four safety recommendations to NCAA, which included ‘strict adherence to NAHCO’s Standard Operating Procedures’ and ‘Air Operators’ Certificate (AOC) holders should determine the minimum number of personnel for airline ground handling operations to be deployed for each aircraft type.’

    On the Westlink Airlines’ Piper Aztec 23-250 aircraft accident, AIB identified inadequate visual lookout and failure to avoid the obstacle by the pilots as the only causal factor responsible for the accident.

    The contributory factors included less than adequate planning and preparation for the flight, inadequate pilot training and experience on agricultural aerial work and limited regulatory guidance and oversight on agricultural operations.

    It also made four safety recommendations to NCAA in its report.

    The report also included two NCAT serious incidents that occurred on May 23, 2012 and October 4, 2012 in Kaduna State, which generated eight safety recommendations.

    Olateru said : ” With 66 safety recommendations out of 147 and 16 reports out of 35 recorded from January 2017 to date, we have achieved 45 percent on our Safety Recommendation and 46 percent on publication of the accident and serious incident report.

    “To ensure that our recommendations are effective and are getting the desired results and as you may be aware, we recently inaugurated a committee to review all safety recommendations issued by the Bureau since inception to measure the effectiveness of the safety recommendation. We look to publish the report of the exercise shortly.

    “Reaching a total of 16 accident and serious incident reports in the last 15 months could only be made possible by the tremendous effort of our member of staff who continuously have sleepless night in ensuring that we clear the backlog, the support of the supervisory ministry and particularly the Minister.

    ” Accident investigation and reporting is not an easy task especially when there are several laws/procedures/regulations that govern each investigation. When there is an occurrence, it is important to investigate and publish the findings of the occurrence promptly for avoidance and prevention.

    As we work assiduously to clear the backlog of reports, we are equally ensuring that new occurrences are resolved promptly. “

  • Rainy season: NCAA issues weather alert to pilots, airlines

    THE Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has issued a weather hazard alert to pilots and airline operators over the rainy season.

    The  alert, according to NCAA spokesman, Sam Adurogboye,  is quite imperative at the outset of the rainy season, which is usually accompanied with severe thunderstorms and many other hazardous weather phenomena.

    He listed the weather phenomena as including turbulence, microburst, low level wind shear and hail events.

    The phenomena, the NCAA said, constitute factors known to pose obvious threat to aircraft operations.

    The advisory circular is  based on the Seasonal Rainfall Prediction (SRP) released for the year 2018 by the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet).

    It predicts March/ April and May/ June as the onset  for rainy season in the southern and northern parts.

    It reads : “Therefore, pilots, operators and air traffic controllers should take note of their responsibilities.

    “Air traffic controllers may temporarily close airspace when hazardous weather conditions such as severe thunderstorms, squall lines, microburst or low level wind shear are observed or forecast by Nimet.

    “Flight crews/operators and Air Traffic Controllers (ATC) shall ensure adherence to aerodrome weather minima.

    “Pilots shall exercise maximum restraint whenever adverse weather is observed or forecast by Nimet.

    “Pilots/Flight crew members shall obtain adequate departure, en-route and destination weather information and briefing from Nimet Aerodrome Meteorological officer prior to flight operations.

    “Operators are, therefore, advised to ensure necessary measures are put in place to manage effects of flight delays or cancellations on their passengers.

    “All stakeholders are required to ensure strict compliance with this circular as violations would be viewed seriously.”

     

     

  • NCAA intensifies surveillance on carriers

    The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has intensified surveillance on domestic airlines. This include audit of the indigenous carriers, a fallout of the recurring  incidents involving Dana Air, Arik Air and Medview airlines.

    The regulatory agency said its inspectors monitor the airlines, more especially at the ramp areas, stressing that it would continue to sustain and improve on the safety level in the industry.

    Its Director-General, Capt. Muhtar Usman, said the agency was learning from the recent incidents, assuring that the lessons would be applied to prevent calamities.

    Although Usman pointed out that this year has been turbulent in global aviation, he assured that the NCAA would improve on the safety level, adding that the Accident Investigation Bureau (AIB’s) recommendations would be implemented.

    This will also include adhering to the eight critical elements of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO).

    “We take note of those incidences that happened. We are going to learn from them to ensure that we don’t have any unforeseen situation. We are intensifying our surveillance, especially the ramping aspect of it; checking, rechecking, training, re-training, inspections as much as possible to ensure that whatever happens is in the past,” Usman explained.

    Reacting to the “intrusion” of the Consumer Protection Council (CPC) into aviation, Usman urged the Council to focus more attention in other areas with less regulation, because the industry is one of the most regulated.

    He said the role of CPC should be complementary to NCAA. ‘’As I have said, we have to contend with other international treaties, MoUs and agreements signed by Nigeria. CPC should focus more on other areas that are not so regulated like aviation,” he said.

    He however pointed out that both agencies were working towards a common goal of consumer satisfaction, adding that it would try as much as possible to work with the agency to ensure improvement in the system.

     

  • Plane crash: Judgment stalled in Falae family’s suit

    Judgment was stalled on Wednesday in a suit filed by the family of former Commissioner for Culture and Tourism in Ondo State, late Deji Falae.

    The deceased’s family is praying the Federal High Court in Lagos to hold that the Associated Aviation Nigeria Limited and the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) caused his death in a plane crash through negligence.

    The deceased was a passenger of  a Flight 361 that crashed on October 3, 2013 while conveying the remains of former Ondo State governor, Olusegun Agagu, to the state for funeral.

    The late Falae’s wife, Ese and three teenage children are claiming damages from the defendants for alleged negligence.

    They are claiming $100,000 as general damages and N219, 906,250 which the deceased would have earned in 15 years as a lawyer, commissioner and owner of a construction firm had he not died.

    In the alternative, the plaintiffs sought N108, 527,750, £160,740 and $19,000 as special damages for alleged breaches of the defendants’ respective duties under the Civil Aviation Act 2006, Fatal Accident Act 1846 and Fatal Accident Law of Lagos State.

    They also prayed for N5million as cost of filing the suit and legal fees, and 10 per cent interest on the post-judgment sum.

    The judgment was billed for Wednesday and parties were informed by court officials that Justice Rabiu Hadiza Shagari would deliver the verdict by 2: 00 p.m.

    But the counsel for the parties, who waited for the judge to sit on the matter, were invited into the judge’s chambers at 3:30 p.m.

    One of the counsel informed journalists when they came out of the judge’s chambers that the judgment was not ready, and that the judge had adjourned it till March 29.

    The family claimed that Associated Aviation, which operated the chartered aircraft, breached Section 74 of the Civil Aviation Act 2006 by failing to procure a legally binding insurance policy covering its liabilities, including compensation for damages that may be sustained by third parties.

    It also asked the court to hold that the company breached statutory duties imposed by Section 55 of the Act when its aircraft at 9:32 a.m., a minute after take-off, crashed just outside the aerodrome and caused the deceased’s death.

     

  • NCAA probes Delta Airlines’ air return

    NCAA probes Delta Airlines’ air return

    THE Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has classified the fire that engulfed the engine of an Atlanta, United States (U.S.)-bound Delta Airlines flight as “a very serious incident”.

    The authority said it has, therefore, handed over its investigation to the Accident Investigation Bureau (AIB).

    A statement by its spokesman, Sam Adurogboye, explained that the classification was in line with the standards of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO).

    According to Adurogboye, the aircraft with registration number N858NW with 219 passengers on board took off from the Lagos Airport at about 9.51p.m. Universal Time Coordinated (UTC) on Tuesday, February 13, when the crew noticed abnormal engine conditions in one of the two engines.

    He said the aircraft’s pilot made an air return after declaring emergency at 9.51 pm UTC.

    The statement said: “Some of the passengers, who sustained injuries, were rushed down to Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), Ikeja for prompt medical attention.

    “In line with safety standards, the international Runway (18R) was promptly closed to traffic while the domestic Runway (18L/36R) was opened to other flights for emergency operations.

    “However, at time 0020UTC (1:20 am local time), the international Runway (18R) was reopened to traffic after the aircraft was evacuated from the runway and a runway sweeping and inspection conducted.”

    It added: “This incident was classified as serious incident in line with International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) classification, and investigation was handed over to Accident Investigation Bureau (AIB).

    “The flight has been rescheduled for Wednesday February 14, 2018 and affected passengers are already being checked in for departure.

    “The NCAA wishes to commend the prompt response of airport safety Services and other stakeholders.

    “NCAA wishes to reassure the travelling public, airlines and other aviation stakeholders of her continued commitment to Aviation safety and security.”

    Adurogboye said the pilot acted in accordance with the Standard and Recommended Practices (SARPs) by making an air return.

    Another statement yesterday by the United States carrier’s media consultant in Nigeria, Mr. Tope Awe, said the A330-200 had an issue with one of its two engines.

    “The flight landed safely and customers exited the aircraft on the runway via emergency slides.

    “Airport fire authorities met the aircraft upon arrival. Delta’s customers were bussed back to the terminal. Delta is aware of five customers reporting non-critical injuries as a result of the evacuation.

    “Delta teams have provided overnight hotel accommodations to customers and will rebook customers on an alternate Delta aircraft Wednesday afternoon.

    “The safety of Delta’s customers and crew members is always our top priority,” Awe said.

  • Delta Airlines engine fire: A serious incidents, says NCAA

    Delta Airlines engine fire: A serious incidents, says NCAA

    Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority ( NCAA ) on Wednesday classified the fire that engulfed a Delta Airlines Airbus 330 – 200 aircraft as a very serious incident and has handed over its investigation to the Accident Investigation Bureau (AIB).

    The regulator in a statement by its spokesman, Sam Adurogboye said the classification is in line with the standards of the International Civil Aviation Organization ( ICAO) .

    According to Adurogboye, the Delta Airlines aircraft with registration number N858NW with 219 passengers on board took off from the Lagos Airport about 9.51 pm Universal Time Coordinated (UTC) on Tuesday February 13, 2018 when the crew noticed abnormal engine conditions in one of the two engines.

    He said the pilot in command consequently made an air return after declaring emergency at 9.51 pm UTC .

    The statement reads :” A Delta Airlines which departed Lagos for New York has aborted its flight over fire warnings.

    The Delta Air Flight DAL55 Airbus 332 with 219 POB Registration N858NWtook off at 2151utc on Tuesday- February 13, 2018 when the crew noticed abnormal engine condition in one of its two engines.

    “Consequently, the Pilot in Charge (PIC) made an air return after declaring emergency at 2159utc. All emergency services were provided to assist in the passengers’ evacuation and to contain the fire.

    “Some of the passengers who sustained injuries were rushed down to Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), Ikeja for prompt medical attention.

    “In line with safety standards, the international Runway (18R) was promptly closed to traffic while the domestic Runway (18L/36R) was opened to other flights for emergency operations.

    “However, at time 0020UTC (1:20 am Local Time), the international Runway (18R) was reopened to traffic after the aircraft was evacuated from the Runway and a Runway sweeping and inspection conducted.

    “This incident was classified as serious incident in line with International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) classification, and investigation was handed over to Accident Investigation Bureau (AIB).

    “The flight has been rescheduled for Wednesday-14th February, 2018 and affected passengers are already being checked in for departure.

    “The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) wishes to commend the prompt response of Airport Safety Services and other stakeholders.

    “NCAA wishes to reassure the travelling public, airlines and other aviation stakeholders of her continued commitment to Aviation safety and security.“