NCAA GROUNDED A RANO AIR AIRCRAFT FOLLOWING AN IN-FLIGHT ENGINE FAILURE THAT TRIGGERED EMERGENCY PROTOCOLS
02-07-25
By Sadiq Aminu The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has grounded a Rano Air aircraft following an in-flight engine failure that triggered emergency protocols and raised concerns about air safety.
The incident occurred onboard Rano Air’s aircraft which reportedly suffered a failure in its number one engine midair from Kano to Sokoto at 15:34pm local time on Sunday.
Passengers and crew were alerted to the emergency after smoke was observed inside both the cabin and the flight deck.
According to the Director, Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, NCAA, Mr. Michael Achimugu on his Twitter handle, oxygen masks were automatically deployed and standard emergency procedures were promptly initiated as the aircraft prepared for landing.
The authority confirmed that the smoke eventually dissipated and the pilot executed a safe landing without further incident.
“The rescue aircraft that was to then airlift passengers out of Sokoto had already boarded Abuja-Katsina passengers. It would have created problems to deboard those passengers. The flight out of Sokoto was, therefore, cancelled”.
In the wake of the event, the NCAA’s Directorate of Airworthiness has ordered that the affected aircraft remain grounded pending the conclusion of a full safety investigation.
Engineers are currently carrying out detailed inspections and repairs on the aircraft, which remains parked at its location.
The regulatory authority reaffirmed its unwavering commitment to maintaining the highest safety standards, noting that Nigeria remains vigilant in enforcing protocols that prioritize passenger welfare.
The NCAA added that even minor concerns result in immediate flight cancellations or aircraft grounding, a proactive safety stance it claims surpasses those of many more advanced aviation markets.
Rano Air has not yet issued a public statement regarding the incident.
Meanwhile, the NCAA assured the flying public that regulatory oversight remains firm and uncompromising in ensuring safety across Nigerian airspace.