The Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) has released its preliminary report on the serious incident involving a private aircraft that landed on a roadway under construction near the Asaba Airport in Delta State, stressing that investigations into the occurrence are still ongoing.
The incident involved a Bombardier Challenger 601-3A aircraft, with nationality and registration marks N989BC, operated by VMO Aero Limited, during an Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) flight from the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, to Asaba on June 10, 2026.
According to a statement issued on Thursday by the Director of Public Affairs and Family Assistance, Mrs Funke Adebayo-Arowojobe, the Bureau has made the preliminary report available to the public through its website.
The report disclosed that while approaching Asaba Airport, the aircraft discontinued its initial approach before repositioning for a second approach to Runway 11.
The flight crew reportedly informed investigators that the aircraft’s navigation indications showed it was correctly established on the published RNAV Runway 11 approach.
However, instead of landing on the airport runway, the aircraft touched down on a paved roadway under construction in the vicinity of the airport.
There were seven occupants on board, comprising four crew members and three passengers, and no injuries were recorded.
Following the incident, the aircraft was shut down and inspected before the passengers disembarked. It later departed the roadway and flew back to the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos without any further reported operational abnormalities.
A post-flight examination, however, revealed damage to the aircraft’s left nose-wheel assembly.
The NSIB said its preliminary report was compiled using information obtained from the flight crew, witnesses, operational and Air Traffic Control records, post-occurrence examination of the aircraft, relevant documents, as well as data retrieved from the Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR) and Flight Data Recorder (FDR).
The Bureau noted that both recorders were successfully downloaded at its Transport Safety Laboratory in Abuja, while technical examinations and further analysis remain in progress.
“The preliminary report contains the factual information established during the investigation to date, including Initial Findings based on the evidence currently available and Immediate Safety Recommendations arising from safety issues identified at this stage of the investigation.”
The Bureau emphasised that the report does not contain analysis or conclusions on the probable causes or contributing factors of the incident, as investigations are still ongoing.
“The Bureau will publish its Final Report, including its analysis, conclusions, and further safety recommendations where appropriate, upon completion of the investigation in accordance with ICAO Annex 13 to the Convention on International Civil Aviation.”
The NSIB urged members of the public and the media to access the preliminary report through its official website while reiterating its commitment to conducting an objective, comprehensive and independent investigation aimed at improving transport safety in Nigeria.
