FG Confirms Grounding of Kenyan Aircraft

Federal government has confirmed that it has grounded a Kenyan aircraft that brought in three Nigerian deportees to the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos for non-adherence to security procedures.

The aircraft has been detained security agencies since June 3, 2013 under the directive of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

In a statement made available to Nigeria CommunicationsWeek late Thursday, Yakubu Dati, coordinating general manager, corporate communications, aviation parastatals, confirmed the grounding of the aircraft. 

Dati said that the flight was going through security routine and when this was completed it would be released.

He also disclosed that the aircraft, a DC-9 with registration number, 5Y-SAX owned by Cavoc Airlines arrived Nigeria on June 3 with 15 crew members and the three Nigerians that were deported.

The deported Nigerians he said were still in detention at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs under the watchful eyes of security agencies.

“On the 3rd of June at about 18:36 hours, a Kenya aircraft with registration number 5Y-SAX, owned by Cavoc Airlines arrived Nigeria with a total of 18 persons. Among them, 15 were crew members while three were passengers.

“The three Nigerians were said to be deportees from Kenya, but the security agencies in Lagos discovered that certain procedures were not complied with and subsequently grounded the aircraft.

“That is why the aircraft has been grounded and it is going through security routine at the moment. As soon as the grey areas are clarified the aircraft will be released according to the laws of the land. The type of aircraft is DC-9 and the deported are still under detention,” Dati explained.