BREAKING: FG Impounds Aircraft For Illegal Operation Of Commercial Flight Into Nigeria

Federal government has impounded an aircraft owned by Flair Aviation, a United Kingdom-based aviation company for running a commercial flight as against the humanitarian operations it was given authorization for in Nigeria.

Aviation Minister Hadi Sirika, revealed this on his official twitter handle saying the crew of the flight are also being interrogated as there shall be maximum penalty for the offence.

According to Hadi Sirika @hadisirika, ‘COVID-19. Flair Aviation, a UK company, was given approval for humanitarian operations but regrettably we caught them operating commercial flights which is illegal.

This is callous! The craft is impounded, crew being interrogated. There shall be a maximum penalty. Wrong time to try our resolve!”. He tweeted.

READ ALSO: Buhari Renews Akabueze’s Tenure As DG Budget Office

Note that commercial flight operations, both local and international, had been stopped.

Though general flights had since stopped, the President’s directive permitted essential flights including those for medical and evacuation purposes, amongst others, which are subject to the authorisation of the Federal Ministry of Aviation and agencies under it.

Furthermore, on May 6, the Chairman of the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19, Boss Mustapha, disclosed that the closure of the country’s airports and airspace was further lengthened by four weeks after due consultations with experts.