Reported by: Oahimire Omone Precious | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau has officially released its 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 on 10 June 2026, revealing that the flight crew had aborted their initial approach to the airport before repositioning for a second approach to Runway 11, after which the aircraft touched down on the wrong surface. The aircraft, bearing registration N989BC and operated by VMO Aero Limited, was conducting an Instrument Flight Rules flight from Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, to Asaba Airport when the incident occurred.
According to the NSIB's preliminary report, released on Friday, 10 July 2026, the flight crew reported that the aircraft's navigation indications displayed the aircraft as established on the published RNAV Runway 11 approach. The crew discontinued their initial approach to Asaba Airport and repositioned for a second approach. However, instead of touching down on the designated runway, the aircraft landed on a paved roadway under construction located near the airport. The report, signed by the Director of Public Affairs and Family Assistance, Funke Adebayo-Arowojobe, stated that there were seven occupants on board, comprising four crew members and three passengers, and no injuries were recorded.
Following the landing, the aircraft was shut down and inspected, while the passengers disembarked. The aircraft subsequently departed from the roadway and returned to Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, without further reported operational abnormalities. However, a post-flight examination identified damage to the aircraft's left nose-wheel assembly. The NSIB said investigators have recovered and successfully downloaded the Cockpit Voice Recorder and Flight Data Recorder 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. The 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.
The incident has drawn significant attention from aviation authorities and security agencies. Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, had earlier disclosed that the jet did not suffer any mechanical failure but mistakenly landed on a road that the pilots mistook for a runway. Keyamo explained that the aircraft had been cleared to land at Asaba Airport but failed to touch down on the designated runway, adding that the control tower lost visual contact with the aircraft shortly after issuing landing clearance and later discovered that it had landed on a nearby construction road, where it dropped passengers. "The tower in Asaba cleared them to land. After about two minutes, the tower called and said, 'Where is your location? I can't see you again. I can't see you on the tarmac,'" Keyamo recounted. "They said they landed on a roadway that they saw. It happened that it was a construction site very close to the airport. They saw a beautiful road there that looked like a runway and landed there."
The unauthorised departure from the roadway without regulatory clearance has also raised serious security concerns. Keyamo noted that the crew took off to Lagos after dropping their passengers before authorities could intervene, a move he described as a serious breach of aviation regulations and security protocols. The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority immediately grounded the aircraft upon its arrival in Lagos, suspended the operator's Permit for Non-Commercial Flight, and ordered a comprehensive audit of its operational, maintenance, airworthiness and flight records. Security agencies have also taken custody of the crew members for questioning as part of ongoing investigations. The Department of State Services has been briefed on the matter, with reports expected to be sent to President Bola Tinubu, as the incident is now being treated as a national security concern.
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