Nigerian Aviation Authority Grounds Rano Air’s 5N-BZY After Mid-Air Engine Failure

The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has grounded Rano Air’s aircraft with registration 5N-BZY following an engine failure that resulted in smoke in both the cabin and flight deck. The incident, which occurred during a recent flight, prompted the crew to put on their oxygen masks and initiate emergency protocols. Fortunately, the pilots safely landed the aircraft without incident.

The Directorate of Airworthiness ordered the aircraft to remain grounded pending a full investigation into the failure of engine one. NCAA officials emphasised that engineers are currently working on the plane, which remains on the ground.

As a result of the grounding, a scheduled rescue flight from Sokoto, intended to carry stranded passengers, was cancelled. The aircraft designated for that mission had already boarded Abuja-Katsina passengers, and deboarding them to accommodate the Sokoto-bound travellers would have caused logistical complications, according to the NCAA.

In a statement addressing the incident, NCAA’s Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Michael Achimugu, warned and reaffirmed the authority’s unwavering commitment to safety.

The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA, prioritises safety. 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 added that the cancellation and grounding were in line with global aviation safety protocols, underscoring the authority’s zero-compromise stance on airworthiness. In another concerning trend recently, a December 2024 report by West Africa Weekly highlighted that between 2023 and 2024, another airline, Max Air, recorded at least seven major safety incidents, including multiple tyre bursts and mechanical failures.

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