...discovers damage to left nose-wheel assembly
The Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) has released the preliminary report on its ongoing investigation into the serious incident involving a Bombardier Challenger 601-3A aircraft with nationality and registration marks N989BC, operated by VMO Aero Limited.
Recall that the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA )had earlier ordered the grounding of the Bombardier Challenger CL-601 aircraft operated by VMO Aero and suspended the company’s Permit for Non-Commercial Flight (PNCF), following the incident.
According to the regulator, preliminary information showed the aircraft conducted a missed approach during an attempted landing at Asaba Airport before ending up on a roadway in the Ogwashi-Uku area near the airport.
The NCAA also raised concerns that the aircraft later departed the location for Lagos without obtaining the required regulatory approval.
According to NSIB, the occurrence took place on 10 June 2026 during an Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) flight from Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, to Asaba Airport, Delta State.
The bureau explained during the approach to Asaba Airport, the aircraft discontinued its initial approach and repositioned for a second approach to Runway 11., adding that the flight crew reported that the aircraft’s navigation indications displayed the aircraft as established on the published RNAV Runway 11 approach.
The aircraft subsequently landed on a paved roadway under construction in the vicinity of Asaba Airport instead of the intended runway.
There were seven occupants on board, comprising four crew members and three passengers, and no injuries were recorded.
Following the landing, the bureau said crew shut down the aircraft and inspected it while the passengers disembarked.
“The aircraft subsequently departed from the roadway and returned to Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, without further reported operational abnormalities.
A post-flight examination, it said it identified damage to the left nose-wheel assembly.
“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 recorders were retrieved and downloaded at the Bureau’s Transport Safety Laboratory in Abuja, Technical examinations and further analysis remain ongoing.”, it said.
The Bureau reiterates that 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 report does not include analysis or conclusions regarding the causes or contributing factors associated with the occurrence, as the investigation remains ongoing.”, it cautioned.
The Bureau said it 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.
