The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has grounded a Rano Air aircraft after it experienced an engine failure and subsequent fire scare mid-flight.
The incident occurred on Sunday, June 29, 2025, involving a Kano-bound flight from Sokoto operated by Rano Air. The flight, marked 5N-BZY, was forced to turn back following the emergency.
According to NCAA spokesman Michael Achimugu, smoke was detected on the flight deck and in the cabin, causing panic among passengers. The flight crew promptly reported the issue to air traffic controllers, triggering emergency protocols and enabling the aircraft to land safely.
Achimugu stated, “The Rano Air plane 5N-BZY suffered an engine failure. Smoke was observed both in the cabin and the flight deck, prompting the deployment of oxygen masks. The pilots followed all safety procedures and successfully landed the aircraft without further incident.”
Following the emergency landing, the NCAA’s Directorate of Airworthiness ordered that the aircraft remain grounded pending a full investigation.
The flight, which was originally set to operate a Sokoto-bound route, had already boarded passengers from Abuja to Katsina before the incident. The cancellation of the Sokoto flight was necessary to manage passenger safety and logistics effectively.
“5N-BZY remains on the ground while engineers carry out repairs. At NCAA, safety is our top priority. Even the most advanced aviation markets experience incidents, but here, flights are canceled at the first sign of risk to ensure passenger safety,” Achimugu emphasized.
