Chanchangi Airlines (NCH, Kaduna) and IRS Airlines (Abuja) have been grounded by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) in the wake of a recent spate of incidents involving Nigerian airlines, among them Associated Aviation (SCD, Lagos) and Kabo Air (Kano). Dana Air (9J, Lagos) was also grounded in mid-October and is set to undergo a safety audit shortly. According to Nigerian paper, Punch, Chanchangi and IRS were grounded by the Director General of the NCAA, Captain Fola Akinkuotu, who ordered all scheduled airline operators whose fleet size had been reduced to only one operational aircraft to immediately stop flight operations. Chanchangi had operated a revolving fleet consisting of a B737-300 and a B737-500 while IRS had operated a pair of Fokker 100s though the operational status of each airline's fleet is unknown. The report further claims that other operators are also likely to be grounded with unnamed charter and cargo operators having been mentioned.
NCAA grounds Chanchangi, IRS Airlines over fleet requirements
© Tis Meyer (PlanePics.org)