NCAA grounds Rano Air 5N-BZY aircraft over engine failure

Omeiza Bilal

The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA)has ordered aircraft 5N-BZY belonging to Rano Air remain grounded pending a thorough investigation.

The regulator took the decision after the aircraft experienced a significant engine failure mid-air triggering an emergency response that involved visible smoke in both the cabin and flight deck.

According to reports, despite the alarming situation, the crew successfully executed emergency protocols, ensuring the safety of all passengers on board.

The aircraft, which had already taken on passengers bound for Abuja and Katsina, would have faced operational difficulties had it been required to deboard those passengers; as a result, the flight from Sokoto was ultimately cancelled.

The Director, Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, NCAA, Michael Achimugu, in his X space on Monday, reiterated the authority’s commitment to safety in Nigerian aviation, emphasising that the records are clear.

“More advanced countries have worse air incidents than Nigeria because here, flights will get cancelled if there is the slightest concern about safety,” Achimugu stated.

He assured the public that the investigation into the engine failure of 5N-BZY would be conducted thoroughly, and that all steps would be taken to prevent a recurrence of such an event.