NSIB Releases Preliminary Report On Asaba Road Plane Landing Incident

The Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB), has released the preliminary report into the serious incident involving a Bombardier Challenger 601-3A business jet that mistakenly landed on a paved roadway under construction near Asaba Airport instead of the designated runway.

The aircraft, bearing registration N989BC and operated by VMO Aero Limited, was conducting an Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) flight from Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, to Asaba Airport on June 10, 2026, when the occurrence happened.

According to the Bureau, the crew discontinued their initial approach to Asaba Airport before repositioning for a second approach to Runway 11.

The NSIB also stated that the flight crew reported that the aircraft’s navigation system indicated it was correctly established on the published RNAV Runway 11 approach, however, the aircraft landed on a paved roadway under construction located near the airport instead of the intended runway.

NSIB said investigators have recovered and successfully downloaded the Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR) and Flight Data Recorder (FDR) at its Transport Safety Laboratory in Abuja.

The investigation has also drawn from flight crew and witness statements, Air Traffic Control recordings, operational records, aircraft examinations and other relevant documentation; while technical examinations and detailed analysis are still ongoing.

The Bureau stressed that the preliminary report contains only factual information established so far, along with initial findings and immediate safety recommendations based on evidence currently available.

The report does not assign blame or identify the causes or contributing factors of the incident but NSIB noted that its final report, which will include detailed analysis, conclusions and additional safety recommendations where necessary, will be published after the investigation is completed in line with the provisions of ICAO Annex 13 to the Convention on International Civil Aviation.

LEADERSHIP recalls that there were seven people on board—four crew members and three passengers—and no injuries were recorded.

After landing, the aircraft was shut down and inspected, allowing passengers to disembark safely. It subsequently departed the roadway and returned to Lagos without any further reported operational abnormalities. A post-flight inspection later revealed damage to the aircraft’s left nose-wheel assembly.