Nigeria Government Seizes Foreign Aircraft Operating Commercial Services Without Clearance

The Nigeria Government has seized an aircraft belonging to Flair Aviation, an aviation company with ties to Germany and the United Kingdom, for operating commercial services in the country without the approval of the aviation authorities.

Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika, who made the disclosure in his official Twitter handle on Sunday, said the aircraft only had clearance for humanitarian services but was caught conducting commercial flights.

Sirika said the aircraft has been seized and the crew are being interrogated.

“COVID-19. Flair Aviation, a UK company, was given approval for humanitarian operations but regrettably we caught them conducting commercial flights. This is callous! The craft is impounded, crew being interrogated. There shall be maximum penalty. Wrong time to try our resolve!”