The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has issued an immediate order for the grounding of Rano Air aircraft with registration number 5N-BZY. This decisive action followed a significant incident where the aircraft experienced a malfunction on Engine 1, resulting in smoke being observed in both the cabin and cockpit during a flight from Kano to Sokoto on Sunday. The incident, which occurred at approximately 3:34 pm Nigerian time, prompted the NCAA to enforce its strict aviation safety protocols across all carriers operating within Nigerian airspace, reaffirming its commitment to passenger safety.

In response to the engine malfunction and visible smoke, the flight crew promptly activated oxygen masks and initiated all appropriate emergency procedures to prepare for a safe landing. Fortunately, the smoke dissipated prior to the aircraft touching down, and the flight’s captain successfully landed the aircraft without any further complications. Despite the safe landing, the NCAA’s Directorate of Airworthiness immediately instructed that aircraft 5N-BZY must remain grounded indefinitely, pending a full and thorough safety investigation. Engineers are currently on site, meticulously examining the aircraft on the ground to ascertain the root cause of the engine issue and the smoke emission.

The incident inevitably led to considerable disruptions in Rano Air’s schedule, significantly affecting travelers who were slated to depart from Sokoto to other destinations, including Kano and Abuja. The Sokoto leg of the operation was consequently cancelled, while passengers originally bound for Abuja via Katsina were accommodated on a rescue aircraft. The NCAA has stated that affected passengers are expected to be accommodated in line with Rano Air’s obligations under consumer protection laws, mitigating the inconvenience caused by the unforeseen grounding.

Meanwhile, the NCAA has strongly reiterated its unwavering stance on aviation safety, affirming that it will not compromise on compliance with safety protocols, even if such strict adherence results in disruptions to flight operations. The Authority proudly highlighted that Nigeria’s aviation safety record remains robust and solid, particularly when considering the inherent challenges of operating in a developing environment. It drew a compelling comparison, noting that countries with more advanced aviation infrastructure frequently report more severe incidents than Nigeria experiences. The NCAA attributes this superior safety record to its policy of cancelling flights at the slightest indication of a safety-related concern, asserting that its current actions align seamlessly with global best practices and international regulatory benchmarks in civil aviation oversight.

The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority has pledged to provide further updates on the incident involving aircraft 5N-BZY once the comprehensive investigations are fully concluded, ensuring transparency and accountability throughout the process.