NSIB has released a preliminary report after a Bombardier Challenger aircraft mistakenly landed on a road under construction near Asaba Airport.
The Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) has released its preliminary findings into the unusual aviation incident involving a Bombardier Challenger 601-3A aircraft that mistakenly landed on a paved roadway under construction instead of the runway at Asaba Airport in Delta State.
The report provides the first official account of what transpired during the June 10, 2026 occurrence and outlines the steps investigators have taken so far.
While the Bureau disclosed several verified facts surrounding the incident, it stressed that the investigation remains active and that no conclusions have yet been reached regarding the exact cause of the wrong landing.
According to the NSIB, the aircraft involved was a Bombardier Challenger 601-3A with registration number N989BC, operated by VMO Aero Limited. There were seven people on board at the time of the flight, comprising four crew members and three passengers.
The aircraft departed the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos on an Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) flight bound for Asaba Airport.
Instrument Flight Rules are procedures that allow aircraft to operate safely using cockpit instruments and navigation systems, particularly when pilots cannot rely solely on visual references.
The Bureau explained that the crew initially attempted to land at Asaba Airport but decided to discontinue the first approach.
Such decisions are not uncommon in aviation and are often made when pilots believe conditions are not suitable for a safe landing. After aborting the first attempt, the crew repositioned the aircraft for a second approach to Runway 11.
According to the preliminary findings, the pilots reported that the aircraft’s navigation systems indicated they were correctly established on the published RNAV Runway 11 approach procedure.
Despite those indications, the aircraft eventually touched down on a nearby paved roadway that was still under construction rather than the airport runway.
The report did not state what caused the aircraft to align with the roadway instead of the runway.
Investigators said determining the factors responsible for the incident will require additional technical analysis before any conclusions can be reached.
Following the unexpected landing, the flight crew shut down the aircraft and carried out initial safety checks. Once they confirmed that it was safe to do so, all three passengers disembarked without any reported injuries.
The Bureau further revealed that the aircraft later departed the roadway and flew back to the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos. Officials said no additional operational abnormalities were reported during that return flight.
However, a more detailed inspection conducted after the aircraft arrived in Lagos identified damage to the left nose-wheel assembly.
Investigators are expected to examine whether the damage occurred during the landing on the roadway or while the aircraft departed from the construction surface.
To establish a complete picture of the incident, the NSIB said investigators have collected evidence from several independent sources.
These include interviews with the flight crew and witnesses, Air Traffic Control communications, operational records, technical documents, and physical inspections of the aircraft.
The investigation has also benefited from data obtained from the aircraft’s Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR) and Flight Data Recorder (FDR), commonly referred to as the “black boxes.”
According to the Bureau, both recorders were successfully downloaded and are currently being analysed at its Transport Safety Laboratory in Abuja.
The agency noted that information from the recorders will be compared with other available evidence to determine what occurred during the aircraft’s final approach before landing.
In a statement issued by the Director of Public Affairs and Family Assistance, Mrs. Funke Adebayo-Arowojobe, the Bureau explained that the preliminary report has been published to keep the public informed while ensuring transparency throughout the investigation process.
She emphasised that the document contains only verified factual information gathered during the early stages of the inquiry.
It does not include any analysis, conclusions or findings on the probable cause of the incident because investigators are still reviewing the available evidence.
The NSIB also explained that it follows internationally recognised accident investigation procedures outlined in ICAO Annex 13 to the Convention on International Civil Aviation.
Under those standards, preliminary reports are designed to present factual information, while the final report provides detailed analysis, identifies contributing factors and recommends measures aimed at preventing similar occurrences in the future.
The Bureau assured the public that a comprehensive final report will be published after investigators complete their work.
That report is expected to contain a full reconstruction of the event, technical analysis of the available evidence and any additional safety recommendations considered necessary.
The agency urged the public and aviation stakeholders to avoid speculation while the investigation remains ongoing, noting that the objective of every safety investigation is to improve aviation safety rather than assign blame.
The incident has drawn attention within Nigeria’s aviation sector because it highlights the importance of accurate navigation, airport situational awareness and continued adherence to international safety procedures.
Aviation experts believe the final report could provide valuable lessons for pilots, airlines, airport operators and air navigation authorities in strengthening operational safety across the country’s airspace.
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