The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) on Tuesday said it had released one of the two grounded foreign registered aircraft after its owners paid a N7 million fine to the agency.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the NCAA's acting General Manager, Public Relations, Mr. Sam Adurogboye made the disclosure while briefing newsmen in Lagos.

NAN reports that the aircraft, a Bombardier 700-100 with registration marks G-RBEN Global Express S/N 9083, operated by Gama Aviation, U.K., was grounded recently for violating Nigeria's airspace.

It was grounded alongside a Mexican aircraft, an Embraer 135 J with registration marks XA-MHA.

Confirming the release, Adurogboye said Gama Aviation also paid a 20,000 dollars fine to the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) for operating illegal flights within the country.

He, however, noted that the operators of the second aircraft had yet to comply with the sanction of the regulatory body.

“The operators of G-RBEN aircraft were found operating in Nigeria’s airspace with falsified flight clearance information and conducting illegal domestic flight operations in Nigeria.

“Other infractions are conducting illegal commercial revenue flight operations contrary to Section 1 (3). (3A) and Section B of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Regulations, 2009.”

According to him, the aircraft which holds a UK Air Operators Certificate (AOC) had been carrying out several domestic operations between Abuja and Lagos without the NCAA’s permit.

Adurogboye said the crew had told Air Traffic Controllers (ATC) that the aircraft possessed a ministerial approval for the flight but that upon landing the said approval could not be produced.

He said the aircraft was therefore grounded at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Airport (NAA), Abuja, and the fine was imposed on the operators in accordance with the NCARs.

The acting GM said the NCAA was working closely with other aviation and security agencies to curb such infractions by other aircraft.

“There is no airspace that is immune to violation. We normally have security meetings where all the agencies discuss security matters.

“We need NAMA and other agencies to check violation of the airspace.” (NAN)

•Photo shows MMA, Lagos