Following Thursday’s crash of its chattered airline, the operation license of the Associated Aviation Limited has been suspended by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA).
The license was suspended on Saturday as aviation authorities began investigations into the incident that killed at least 14 of the 20 people who were conveying the corpse of the late former Governor of Ondo State, Olusegun Agagu from Lagos to Ondo for its burial.
Currently, Feyi, the deceased’s only son, is still in the hospital while the former governor has been buried.
As investigations commence into the incident, the Associated Aviation Limited on Friday said the airline, manufactured 23 years ago, had its last maintenance check three months ago.
NCAA Director-General, Fola Akinkuotu, while announcing the suspension of the Associated Airlines at a press briefing at the General Hospital, Ikeja, said the action was to enable full investigation into the crash.
“The operations of Associated Airlines have been suspended by the NCAA. Let me say for the purpose of clarity; all the operations of Associated Airlines have been suspended by the NCAA.”
“I did not say any certification was cancelled but all the operations of the airline have been suspended,” Akinkuotu, who was at the hospital to see the hospitalised victims of the crash, said.
He confirmed that the crashed aircraft was certified airworthy before its last flight, but added that the sustained airworthiness certification of an airplane was the responsibility of the airline itself.
He also said the insurance company handling the airline’s insurance had provided documents about the state of its insurance. He added that the injured victims of the crash were responding positively to treatment and commended the management of the hospital for its state-of-the-art equipment, even as he said the agency would continue to effectively regulate the industry.
