The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has grounded a Rano Air aircraft following an in-flight engine failure that triggered smoke within the cabin and flight deck.
The aircraft, with registration number 5N-BZY, reportedly suffered a malfunction on its number one engine during operations from the Kano airport to Sokoto Sunday 29 June, 2025 at about 1525hrs local time.
Passengers and crew were alarmed when smoke began to seep into the cabin mid-flight, prompting the deployment of oxygen masks and the activation of standard emergency protocols.
In a statement issued by the Authority, the NCAA confirmed that the flight crew handled the situation professionally, and the pilot executed a safe landing without incident.
The smoke, which initially caused concern onboard, dissipated before touchdown, allowing for a controlled and uneventful landing at 1534hrs.
According to reports, the pilot reported incident to Air Traffic Control at 1505hrs
As part of its immediate response, the NCAA’s Directorate of Airworthiness ordered that the aircraft remain grounded while a full investigation is carried out to determine the root cause of the engine failure and smoke emission.
“The rescue aircraft that was to then airlift passengers out of Sokoto had already boarded Abuja-Katsina passengers. It would have created problems to deboard those passengers. The flight out of Sokoto was, therefore, cancelled”.
At the time of filing this report, the aircraft remains on the ground with engineers working under regulatory oversight.
Reaffirming its commitment to passenger safety, the NCAA stated that Nigeria’s aviation safety record remains strong.
It emphasized that in the Nigerian aviation sector, flight cancellations and aircraft grounding are standard measures when even the slightest concern arises—a practice that reflects strict adherence to global safety benchmarks.
The Authority noted that while more technologically advanced countries occasionally record more severe air incidents, Nigeria continues to prioritize safety above all else.
