NCAA rejects UNA’s ‘bad weather’ excuse, opens investigation into diversion of Abuja-bound flight to Asaba

Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) may have rejected the explanation provided by the United Nigeria Airlines (UNA) over its decision to reportedly divert an Abuja-bound flight to Asaba, Delta State, during a scheduled flight on Sunday.

In incident which left passengers disappointed was further worsened when the cabin crew announced to the passengers on touchdown that the plane has arrived the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport (NAIA) when infact it was the Asaba International Airport, in Delta State.

The flight had departed the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) in Lagos with the Abuja airport as destination.

In a statement, Monday, the NCAA said it has commenced investigation into the circumstances surrounding the diversion of the United Nigeria Airlines flight NUA 0506 to Asaba and the confusion it has created in the public domain.

This was disclosed in a–two paragraph statement signed by the Director General, DGCA, Capt. Musa Nuhu and made available to aviation journalists in Lagos.

The DGCA, however, said in the statement that the preliminary steps have been taken pending conclusions of the ongoing investigation, as he reassured the traveling public that it will leave no stone unturned as it has always done in the past to ensure continued safety of the aviation industry.

On Sunday, passengers aboard a United Nigeria Airlines (UNA) operated flight bound for Abuja were left bemused after finding themselves at the Asaba International Airport, in Delta State shortly after takeoff from the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) in Lagos without prior notice by the cabin crew.

The incident which occurred last Sunday on a CRJ-model aircraft operated by the UNA was described by the astonished passengers as disappointing, just as the airline has moved to clarify that the flight was diverted to Asaba due to bad weather.

However, some passengers aboard the plane insist the mistake was due to a wrong flight plan delivered to the pilot.

The flight which has since been re-diverted to Abuja as all passengers disembarked same day at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport (NAIA) safely.

A passenger who identified himself as Salihu Tanko-Yakasai, who leaked the incident via his X handle, Sunday, said passengers aboard the flight were not notified by the crew on plans to divert the aircraft due to bad weather or any other issue, as they found themselves in Asaba minutes after take-off in Lagos.

Tanko-Yakasai, who is a former governorship candidate of the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) in Kano, also added that it was after they landed that the airline immediately realized the wrong flight plan as they re-boarded for Abuja.

However, in a swift response, the UNA has denied wrongly diverting the flight as it claimed the decision was informed by bad weather and not wrong flight plan.

In a brief statement signed by the Head, Corporate Communications, UNA, Achilleus-Chud Uchegbu titled;” Temporary Diversion Of Flight To Asaba, the airline said it diverted the flight due to safety reasons owing to bad weather.

 “A United Nigeria Airlines flight, NUA 0504, operating from the MM2 in Lagos enroute Abuja on Sunday, November 26, 2023, was temporarily diverted to the Asaba International Airport due to poor destination weather.

“At all material time, 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,” the statement read.

The confusion was further heighted when the passengers claimed that the cabin crew made a wrong announcement on landing that the flight had landed in Abuja instead of Asaba.

While the problem was blamed on a lack communication between the cockpit crew and cabin crew, the passengers were left wondering over the confusion for long while still seated inside the plane.

Meanwhile, the airline also in its statement said it remained ‘committed to ensuring the safety of its passengers at all times.’