NCAA grounds Xejet Airline as NAICOM denies authenticity of insurance certificate

The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has suspended the Air Transport Licence (ATL) and Air Operator Certificate (AOC) of XEJET with immediate effect over safety considerations and in the public interest in accordance with Section 59 (7) of the Civil Aviation Act.

The suspension is to be in force pending the conclusion of an investigation over the airline’s failure to confirm the authenticity of the airline’s insurance documents.

The suspension of the airline’s ATL and AOC was communicated to the accountable manager of the airline on Wednesday August 30, 2023, and signed by Musa Nuhu, the director general of civil aviation.

The letter with the title: NOTICE OF SUSPENSION OF AIR TRANSPORT LICENCE NCAA/ATR1/ATK153 AND AIR OPERATORS CERTIFICATE EXJET/AOC/01-22/001 read, “The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) is in receipt of the response to our letter of verification from the National Insurance Commission (NAICOM) regarding your Certificate of Insurance with No. 40122093300118-228 in respect of your Embraer 145, Reg No (5N-BZM) with Serial No. 14500842 indicating that they are unable to confirm the authenticity of your insurance documents and that the documents did not emanate from Consolidated Hallmark Insurance as presented to the Authority.

“In view of above, the Authority is investigating the matter and hereby suspends your Air Transport Licence (ATL) with licence No. NCAA/ATRI/ATK153 and Air Operator Certificate (AOC) with certificate No XEJET/AOC/01-22/001 for safety considerations and public interest in accordance with Section 59 (7) of the Civil Aviation Act with immediate effect pending the conclusion of our investigation. Consequent upon the above, the operations of the underlisted aircraft are suspended:

* 5N-BZM EMBRAER EMB-145LR with Serial No. 14500842 2 5N-BZL EMBRAER SA EMB-145MP with Serial No. 145360

* 5N-BZN EMBRAER EMB-145MP with Serial No. 1450056

* 5N-XEL BOMBARDIER INC. CL-600-2019 (CRJ 200) Senal No. 7975

“You are therefore required to return the ATL and AOC to the office of the chairman.”

The letter of suspension was copied to the minister of aviation and aerospace development, executive chairman, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), and managing director, Nigerian Airspace Management Agency.

The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) had last week, demanded compliance with Nigerian Civil Aviation Regulations (Nig. CARs) 2022 on insurance cover to be maintained by all allied aviation services providers.

This directive was contained in an All 0perator Letter referenced NCAA/DG/AIR/11/16/369 dated 11th August, 2023 addressed to all airlines and allied aviation services providers and personally signed by the Musa Nuhu, director general of civil aviation (DGCA).

The compliance is sequel to the coming into force of Nig. CARs 2022 on 10th July, 2023 which makes it mandatory that all airlines comply with Part 18.14.1.1 of the regulations.

Specifically, Part 18.14.1.1 of the regulations provides amongst others that all airlines and other allied aviation service providers must not operate without adequate and valid insurance cover and without sbmitting to the Authority copies of valid insurance certificate, evidence of payment of premium and other policy documents of insurance cover of not less than three (3) months as specified in IS: 18.14.1.1.Having insurance document which must be adequate and renewed before the expiration of the current policy and be submitted to the NCAA as soon as it is renewed.

“The Authority wants to state that non-adherence to this Regulation will attract immediate sanctions which will include the grounding of the specific aircraft and taking enforcement action against any airlines or service providers that defaulted.Please, be guided accordingly.”, the Authority had said.