A panel has upheld a decision to fine First Nation Airways (Lagos) for safety violations, after one of its pilots was found to have let his medical certificate lapse, according This Day. The expired certification cost the airline NGN32 million (USD101,000) and the pilot NGN1.5 million (USD4,800).

After considering the appeal for four days, a five-person panel upheld the sanctions and fines originally imposed by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA).

"The PIC operated with an expired license from the 2nd to 8th November, 2016, and there are indications that the airline knew the PIC did not have a valid license. This is a very serious safety issue. Therefore, the moderate sanctions applied by the NCAA were reasonable under the circumstances," the panel found.

Additionally, the 62-year old pilot had not completed his mandatory Cardiac Risk Assessment test.

First Nation launched services in 2011 and currently operates scheduled domestic flights between Lagos and Abuja on a pair of A319-100s leased from AerCap. Only one of its aircraft, 5N-FNE (msn 660) is active, with 5N-FND (msn 647) out on maintenance since August 2016.