Passengers in Peril: NCAA Grounds Rano Air After Engine Breaks Down Mid-Flight

The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has grounded a Rano Air aircraft (registration number 5N-BZY) after it suffered an engine malfunction mid-flight on a journey from Abuja to Katsina.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

According to Daily Trust, industry insiders revealed that engine 1 developed a fault while airborne, prompting the flight crew to initiate emergency protocols.

As a result of the incident, Rano Air’s operations were disrupted. Passengers scheduled to travel from Sokoto to other destinations were stranded following the cancellation of the Sokoto leg of the trip.

An aviation source said, “The aircraft’s oxygen masks deployed automatically. The pilots carried out all emergency procedures. Fortunately, the smoke dissipated before landing, and the aircraft touched down safely without any further complications.”

To assist the affected passengers, a rescue aircraft was quickly dispatched to complete the Abuja–Katsina journey. However, the disruption caused delays in subsequent flight schedules.

Aircraft Grounded Pending Investigation

A preliminary statement from the NCAA confirmed that the Directorate of Airworthiness has ordered the aircraft to remain grounded while investigations are carried out.

“Engineers are currently inspecting the aircraft to determine the cause of the engine failure and smoke,” the NCAA noted.

Reiterating its unwavering commitment to flight safety, the NCAA emphasized that it will not compromise aviation standards—even if it means causing temporary disruptions.

“Despite operational challenges typical in developing nations, Nigeria’s aviation sector has maintained a strong safety record,” the authority stated.

The NCAA also noted that Nigeria adopts a precautionary approach, cancelling flights at any sign of risk—unlike some nations with more advanced infrastructure but higher incident rates.

The grounding of the aircraft, the NCAA affirmed, is in line with international aviation safety standards and global oversight regulations.