The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has grounded a Rano Air aircraft with registration number 5N-BZY following an in-flight engine failure during a flight from Kano to Sokoto.

In a statement released on Monday, the NCAA confirmed that the flight made an emergency air return after the crew reported the incident to the Air Traffic Control.

Passengers and crew were thrown into panic after smoke was observed in both the cabin and the flight deck mid-air

According to the Directorate of Airworthiness, led by Victor Foyea, oxygen masks were deployed and standard safety procedures were immediately activated to facilitate a safe landing.

“The Rano aircraft 5N-BZY experienced a failure on its engine 1. Smoke was noticed in the cabin and flight deck. Oxygen masks were donned. The appropriate safety protocols were initiated on the ground for landing. Smoke dissipated. The pilot safely landed the aircraft without incident,” the NCAA stated.

The regulatory authority confirmed that no immediate casualties or injuries were recorded, and the aircraft landed safely at the Kano airport where emergency services had been placed on standby.

As a precautionary measure, the NCAA ordered the grounding of the aircraft pending a thorough investigation into the cause of the malfunction.

The aircraft was also scheduled to operate a Sokoto-bound flight, which has since been cancelled.

As of the time of reporting, the aircraft remains grounded, with engineers working on diagnostics and repairs.

The NCAA reiterated its commitment to passenger safety and emphasized that precautionary measures, including flight cancellations, are necessary whenever there is a hint of mechanical irregularity.

“Even more advanced countries experience air incidents. But in Nigeria, flights are grounded or cancelled at the slightest indication of safety concerns. Safety remains our top priority,” the statement added.