…Nosewheel Assembly damaged
BY OLAPEJU OLUBI
The Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) has released the preliminary report on the serious incident involving a Bombardier Challenger 601-3A aircraft that mistakenly landed on a road under construction instead of the runway at Asaba Airport in Delta State.
The aircraft, with nationality and registration marks N989BC and operated by VMO Aero Limited, was involved in the incident on June 10, 2026, while operating an Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) flight from the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, to Asaba Airport.
According to the Bureau, the aircraft aborted its initial approach to Asaba Airport before repositioning for a second approach to Runway 11.
The flight crew reported that the aircraft’s navigation system indicated it was properly aligned with the published RNAV Runway 11 approach. However, the aircraft eventually landed on a paved roadway under construction near the airport instead of the designated runway.
NSIB said there were seven people on board the aircraft, comprising four crew members and three passengers, adding that no injuries were recorded during the incident.
Following the landing, the aircraft was shut down and inspected while the passengers safely disembarked.
The Bureau disclosed that the aircraft later departed the roadway and returned to the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos without any further reported operational problems.
A post-flight inspection, however, revealed damage to the aircraft’s left nose-wheel assembly.
NSIB said the preliminary report contains information gathered during the early stages of the investigation, including statements from the flight crew and witnesses, operational records, air traffic control information, post-occurrence examination of the aircraft, relevant documents, and data recovered from the Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR) and Flight Data Recorder (FDR).
According to the Bureau, both flight recorders were successfully retrieved and downloaded at its Transport Safety Laboratory in Abuja, while detailed technical examinations and analysis are continuing.
The Bureau noted that the preliminary report has been published on its website for members of the public and the media.
It stressed that the report contains only factual information established so far, as well as initial findings and immediate safety recommendations based on evidence available at this stage of the investigation.
NSIB emphasised that the document does not contain any analysis or conclusions on the probable causes or contributing factors to the incident, noting that investigations are still ongoing.
The Bureau said a final investigation report, containing 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.
Olapeju is a journalist and aviation reporter.
