The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has grounded a Rano Air aircraft following an engine failure mid-flight that forced the plane to return to base.
The incident, which occurred on a flight from Kano to Sokoto, involved an aircraft with registration number 5N-BZY.
According to a statement issued Monday, June 30, by the NCAA, the pilot reported the issue to Air Traffic Control after noticing smoke in the cabin and cockpit, prompting an emergency return.
Victor Foyea, who heads the Directorate of Airworthiness at the NCAA, confirmed that safety protocols were activated both in the air and on the ground to ensure the aircraft’s safe landing.
“Oxygen masks were donned. The appropriate safety protocols were initiated on the ground for landing. Smoke dissipated. The pilot safely landed the aircraft without incident,” the statement read.
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The regulatory body added that the aircraft, which had been scheduled to transport passengers from Sokoto, has now been grounded, with engineers on site to determine the root cause of the malfunction.
“The Rano aircraft 5N-BZY experienced a failure on its engine 1. Smoke was noticed in the cabin and flight deck,” the NCAA said.
The authority assured the public that safety remains its top priority and reiterated its commitment to transparency and adherence to global aviation standards.
“More advanced countries have worse air incidents than Nigeria because, here, flights will get cancelled if there is the slightest safety concern,” the statement noted.
Investigations into the engine failure are ongoing.