NSIB Releases Preliminary Report On Asaba Wrong-Runway Landing Incident
By Stella Enenche, Abuja
The Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) has released the preliminary report into the serious incident involving a Bombardier Challenger 601-3A aircraft that mistakenly landed on a road under construction near Asaba Airport instead of the airport’s runway.
This was disclosed in a statement made available by the Bureau’s Director, Public Affairs and Family Assistance, Mrs Funke Adebayo-Arowojobe on Friday.
The aircraft, with registration N989BC and operated by VMO Aero Limited, was on an Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) flight from Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, to Asaba Airport on June 10, 2026, when the incident occurred.
According to the report, the crew abandoned the initial approach to Asaba Airport and repositioned for a second approach to Runway 11.
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 designated runway. There were seven people on board, comprising four crew members and three passengers. No injuries were recorded.
After the landing, the aircraft was shut down and inspected before the passengers disembarked safely.
The jet later departed the roadway and flew back to Lagos without further operational issues.
A post-flight inspection, however, revealed damage to the aircraft’s left nose-wheel assembly.
The NSIB said its preliminary report contains factual information gathered during the early phase of the investigation, including statements from the flight crew and witnesses, Air Traffic Control and operational records, aircraft examination findings, relevant documents, and data extracted from the Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR) and Flight Data Recorder (FDR).
The bureau disclosed that both recorders were successfully retrieved and downloaded at its Transport Safety Laboratory in Abuja, while technical examinations and detailed analysis are continuing.
“The preliminary report provides information gathered during the early stages of the investigation, including information obtained from flight crew and witness accounts, operational and Air Traffic Control records, post-occurrence examination of the aircraft, documents received, and the Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR) and Flight Data Recorder (FDR),” the bureau stated.
It added that the report contains only factual information established so far, alongside initial findings and immediate safety recommendations based on evidence currently available.
“The report does not include analysis or conclusions regarding the causes or contributing factors associated with the occurrence, as the investigation remains ongoing,” NSIB said.
The bureau assured that a final investigation report, containing its analysis, conclusions and any additional safety recommendations, would be published upon completion of the investigation in line with the provisions of ICAO Annex 13 to the Convention on International Civil Aviation.
