NCAA Contemplates Suspension of United Nigeria Airlines Leased Planes Amid Flight Diversion

InfoStride News reports that the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority has initiated an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the diversion of a United Nigeria Abuja-bound flight to the Asaba International Airport. In response, officials have indicated that the regulator may consider suspending all wet-leased aircraft operated by the carrier.

Musa Nuhu, the Director-General and Chief Executive Officer, conveyed in a statement to InfoStride News, “The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority has commenced an investigation into the circumstances surrounding United Nigeria flight NUA 0506 to Asaba and the confusion it has created in the public domain. However, preliminary steps have been taken pending conclusions of the ongoing investigation. The Authority wishes to reassure the traveling public that it will leave no stone unturned, as it has always done in the past, to ensure the continued safety of the aviation industry.”

Notably, InfoStride News did not receive comments from the United Airlines spokesperson Achilleus-Chud Uchegbu.

 

 

The airline itself addressed the situation in a statement on Sunday, stating, “A United Nigeria Airlines flight, NUA 0504, operating from the MM2 in Lagos en route Abuja on Sunday, November 26, 2023, was temporarily diverted to the Asaba International Airport due to poor destination weather,” the statement reads. “At all material times, the pilot of the aircraft was aware of the temporary diversion and was properly briefed. However, a wrong announcement was made by the cabin crew upon landing safely in Asaba, creating confusion among the passengers.”

For context, a wet-leased arrangement involves one airline (the lessor) providing an aircraft, complete crew, maintenance, and insurance (ACMI) to another airline or a business acting as a broker of air travel (the lessee), with payment based on hours operated.