Elderly Aviator's Decision to Land Plane on Highway Explained by National Aviation Authority

The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority has revealed that the pilot of the private aircraft with registration number N989BC, which landed on a road in Delta State's Ogwashi-Uku area, is 75 years old, while the co-pilot is 70 years old.

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According to Director of Operations, Licensing and Training, Capt. Don Spiff, both pilots possess American licenses and operate under United States aviation regulations, and their ages do not exceed the applicable limits.

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Spiff noted that the aircraft is American-registered and the pilots' licenses are issued by the US, adding that they operate under different regulations than those in Nigeria.

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The current age limit for commercial pilots in Nigeria is 65, but the country's regulations are being reviewed, Spiff stated on an Arise TV programme, News Night.

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Spiff expressed disapproval of the pilot's decision to take off from the road after the incident, describing the action as unauthorized and potentially subject to penalties.

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Investigations into the incident have begun, with the Nigerian Safety Investigation Board, or NSIB, taking the lead, and the NCAA will take over if the incident is deemed not serious.

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Spiff clarified that the pilots' American licenses allow them to operate in the US, where the age limit for pilots is different from Nigeria's, and they were operating under Section 14 of US aviation regulations.

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Nigeria's Civil Aviation Act is being reviewed to allow Nigerian pilots to fly privately after the age of 65, provided they pass a first-class medical check-up, but this does not apply to the pilots in question, who hold American licenses.

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The operator of the aircraft, VMO Aero, is a Nigerian company, but the aircraft itself is American-registered, and the pilots operate under US Federal Aviation Administration, or FAA, regulations, specifically parts 91 and 135.

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Spiff emphasized that the incident was not a breach of regulations, as the aircraft had a filed flight plan from Lagos to Asaba, but the pilot's decision to land on a road and subsequently take off without clearance was unauthorized.

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The NCAA has suspended the pilots' commercial certificate, known as a PNCF, pending the outcome of the investigation, which will determine if there were any ulterior motives behind the pilot's actions.

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Regarding the safety of Nigerian airspace, Spiff stated that one incident in a long period of time should not raise concerns, and the Nigerian airspace is considered very safe, with this incident being isolated.