The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has received widespread commendation from aviation stakeholders and safety experts following its swift decision to ground a Rano Air aircraft after an in-flight engine failure incident occurred on a Kano-Sokoto route.
The affected aircraft, a Rano Air jet with registration number 5N-BZY, was forced to make an emergency air return after engine one reportedly developed a fault mid-flight. According to the NCAA, smoke was detected both in the flight deck and cabin during the incident, prompting the pilot to initiate emergency procedures.
The Directorate of Airworthiness, led by Mr. Victor Foyea, disclosed in a statement on Monday that oxygen masks were deployed, and safety protocols were activated to ensure a safe return and landing at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport. The aircraft landed safely without injuries or further damage, and the smoke dissipated shortly after.
As part of its regulatory response, the NCAA ordered the immediate grounding of the aircraft pending a comprehensive investigation into the root cause of the engine malfunction. The authority also confirmed that the aircraft’s return flight from Sokoto was cancelled to prioritize passenger safety and technical assessment.
“The Rano aircraft 5N-BZY experienced a failure on its engine 1. Smoke was noticed in the cabin and flight deck. Oxygen masks were donned, and appropriate safety protocols were initiated. The aircraft landed safely without incident. The aircraft remains grounded until the cause is determined,” the statement read.
At the time of this report, the aircraft remains on the tarmac, with engineers mobilized to assess and repair the affected engine. The NCAA reiterated that safety remains the cornerstone of Nigeria’s aviation regulations, stressing that precautionary grounding is standard international practice even for minor incidents.
Industry stakeholders have backed the NCAA’s proactive response, stressing the importance of strict regulatory enforcement to uphold aviation safety standards in Nigeria.
Veteran pilot and aviation consultant, Capt. Muhammad Badamosi, said incidents like this are not uncommon but must be addressed with urgency and transparency. “Grounding the aircraft was the right call. What NCAA did is not just standard procedure, it is what any safety-conscious aviation authority must do,” he stated.
Badamosi also clarified that grounding the entire airline would be excessive, as such decisions should only follow systemic safety violations.
Also commenting, retired Air Vice Marshal and aircraft engineer, Moses Onilede, praised the pilot’s decision to execute an air return, describing it as a textbook example of good crisis management in the air. “When one engine fails, some may say the other can still carry the aircraft, but in aviation, you don’t take unnecessary chances. The pilot did the right thing,” he emphasized.
Efforts to reach the management of Rano Air for comments were unsuccessful as calls and text messages sent to the airline’s Managing Director, Mr. Lawan Bakinzowo, went unanswered. The airline is yet to issue an official statement regarding the incident.
However, analysts say the silence from the airline highlights the need for improved crisis communication frameworks within the sector, especially during incidents involving passenger safety.
The NCAA has used the opportunity to reaffirm its zero-tolerance policy for safety breaches and its commitment to upholding international aviation standards. The authority emphasized that even in more advanced countries, aircraft are routinely grounded for safety inspections, and Nigeria would not compromise when lives are at stake.
With this decisive action, the NCAA continues to strengthen public confidence in Nigeria’s aviation oversight and emergency response protocols, especially amid rising demand for domestic air travel.