The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has grounded a Rano Air aircraft following a mid-air incident in which the plane reportedly lost one of its engines during a flight from Abuja to Katsina.
The aircraft, with registration number 5N-BZY, experienced a malfunction in engine one, which resulted in smoke being detected in the cabin and cockpit, according to early reports.
The flight crew immediately activated emergency protocols, including the deployment of oxygen masks, and managed to land the aircraft safely without further incident.
The incident, which occurred during the Abuja, Katsina leg of the journey, also disrupted the airline’s schedule. Passengers waiting in Sokoto for a connecting flight were left stranded, as the Sokoto operation was cancelled. A rescue aircraft was dispatched to complete the Abuja, Katsina route.
In a preliminary report, the NCAA’s Directorate of Airworthiness confirmed that the aircraft had been ordered grounded while engineers conduct a full investigation to determine the root cause of the engine failure and smoke.
“Engineers are currently examining the aircraft on the ground,” the report stated.
The NCAA emphasised that its decision to ground the aircraft was part of its commitment to maintaining strict aviation safety standards. The authority said it would not hesitate to disrupt flight schedules if safety was at risk.
“We do not compromise on safety. Flights in Nigeria are cancelled at the slightest indication of risk, which is why our safety record remains strong,” the NCAA said.
It added that, despite operating in a challenging environment, Nigeria’s aviation sector continues to uphold global safety standards, often exceeding those of countries with more advanced infrastructure.
The NCAA pledged to release further updates once investigations into the Rano Air incident are completed.