The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has suspended the operating licence of Xejet Airlines over alleged fake insurance certificates for its Embraer 145 aircraft.
The development came barely two weeks after the industry regulator began a probe of local airlines over allegations of possessing fake aircraft insurance certificates
NCAA made this known in a letter sent to the operator, a copy of which was obtained by newsmen.
The letter, referenced, NCAA/DGCAIGC/8/16/628, and addressed to the Accountable Manager of XeJet Limited, was dated 30 August 2023.
Titled, ‘Notice of Suspension of the Air Transport Licence and Air Operators Certificate EXJETJAOC/01-22/00’, the letter which was signed by the Director-General of NCAA, Captain Musa Nuhu, stated that the aircraft insurance documents did not emanate from Consolidated Hallmark Insurance as claimed by the airline.
The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo; Executive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission; and the Managing Director of the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency, were put in copy of the letter.
The letter read, “The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority is in receipt of the response to our letter of verification from the National Insurance Commission regarding your Certificate of Insurance with No.40122093300118-22E in respect of your Embraer 145; Reg. No (5N-BZM) with serial number 14500842, indicating that they are unable to confirm the authenticity of your insurance documents and that the documents did not emanate from Consolidated Hallmark Insurance as presented to the authority.
“In view of the above, the authority is investigating the matter and hereby suspends your Air Operators Certificate (A0C) with certificate No XEIETIA0C/01-22/001 for safety considerations and public interest in accordance with Section 59 (7) of the Civil Aviation Act with immediate effect pending the conclusion of our investigation.
“Consequent upon the above, the operations of the underlisted aircraft are suspended: 5N-BZM Embraer EMB-145LR with Serial No. 14500842; 5N-BZL Embraer S.A EMB-145MP with Serial No. 145360; 5N-BZN Embraer EMB-145MP with Serial No. 1450056; and 5N-XEL Bombardier INC. CL-600-2B19 (CRJ 200) Serial No. 7975.
“You are therefore required to return the ATL and AOC to the office of the Chairman Flight Standard Group upon receipt of this letter”.
NCAA had recently said it would not tolerate inadequate insurance cover for aircraft operating in the country.
