Rano Air Incident Rocks Skies, NCAA Grounds Aircraft After Mid-Air Scare
Sokoto/Kano, Nasarawa State – Passengers on a Rano Air flight from Kano to Sokoto experienced a terrifying ordeal on Sunday, June 29, 2025, when their aircraft, with registration number 5N-BZY, suffered a mid-air engine failure and subsequent smoke in both the cabin and cockpit. The dramatic incident, which sent panic through the flight, has led to the immediate grounding of the aircraft by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) and the commencement of a full-scale investigation.
According to the NCAA, whose Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Michael Achimugu, confirmed the development, the Rano Air flight experienced a malfunction in its No. 1 engine. Passengers and crew reportedly noticed smoke, prompting the immediate deployment of oxygen masks and the activation of emergency protocols.
Despite the harrowing situation, the pilot demonstrated exceptional skill, safely executing an emergency landing at Sokoto airport. "The pilot safely landed the aircraft without incident," Achimugu stated, providing a crucial sigh of relief for those on board.
Following the safe landing, the NCAA's Directorate of Airworthiness swiftly moved to ground the affected aircraft (5N-BZY). The directive ensures that the plane will remain out of service until a thorough investigation into the cause of the engine malfunction and the smoke is concluded. Engineers are currently on-site, meticulously examining the aircraft to determine the root cause of the failure. The Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) has also reportedly commenced its own independent inquiry.
The incident has inevitably disrupted Rano Air's flight schedule. Onward flights for passengers who were due to depart from Sokoto, including those already boarded for an Abuja-Katsina leg, were cancelled. This decision, as explained by the NCAA, was made to prioritize safety and avoid further logistical complications of deboarding passengers on the rescue aircraft.
The NCAA has strongly reaffirmed its unwavering commitment to aviation safety, emphasizing that the authority maintains a "zero-tolerance" stance on mechanical irregularities. "Nigerian aviation's safety record remains solid," the NCAA stated, adding that flights would be cancelled even "if there is the slightest concern about safety," a proactive measure it claims often surpasses standards in more "advanced countries."
This mid-air scare represents the most significant recent development for Rano Air, placing its operational safety firmly under the spotlight as aviation authorities work to unravel the full details of what transpired. The outcome of the ongoing investigations will be keenly watched by the flying public and the aviation industry alike.
