The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has initiated an investigation into the circumstances surrounding United Nigeria flight NUA 0506 to Asaba and the resulting confusion in the public domain. This was disclosed in a statement signed by the Director-General of NCAA, Capt. Musa Nuhu, on Monday in Abuja.
While the investigation is ongoing, preliminary steps have been taken to address the situation. Capt. Musa Nuhu assured the traveling public that the authority is committed to ensuring the continued safety of the aviation industry, emphasizing that no effort will be spared in achieving this objective.
In a separate statement, Mr. Achilleus-Chud Uchegbu, the Head of Corporate Communications of United Nigeria Airlines, clarified the incident. According to Uchegbu, the flight, which took off from Lagos en route to Abuja on Sunday, was temporarily diverted to the Asaba International Airport in Delta State due to poor weather conditions at the intended destination.
He explained that the pilots were aware of the temporary diversion and had briefed the passengers accordingly. However, a wrong announcement made by the cabin crew upon landing in Asaba led to confusion among the passengers. The aircraft subsequently landed safely in Abuja after the weather conditions at the original destination improved.
The statements from both the NCAA and United Nigeria Airlines seek to provide clarity on the incident and reassure the public about the safety measures in place within the aviation industry.