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.
The occurrence, it said took place on 10th June, 2026 during an Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) flight from Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, to Asaba Airport, Delta State.
It noted that during the approach to Asaba Airport, the aircraft discontinued its initial approach and repositioned for a second approach to Runway.
The Bureau, in a statement issued on Friday by its Director, Public Affairs and Family Assistance, Mrs Funke Adebayo-Arowojobe, said the flight crew reported that the aircraft’s navigation indications displayed the aircraft as established on the published RNAV Runway 11 approach.
Arowojobe, asserted that the aircraft subsequently landed on a paved roadway under construction in the vicinity of Asaba Airport instead of the intended runway.
She added: “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. A post-flight examination identified damage to the left nose-wheel assembly.”
The preliminary report, according to NSIB, provided 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).
Arowojobe added that the recorders were retrieved and downloaded at the Bureau’s Transport Safety Laboratory in Abuja, Technical examinations and further analysis remain ongoing.
She noted thatghepreliminary report is available for download on the NSIB website for members of the public and the media.
The Bureau reiterated 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, it added, did not include analysis or conclusions regarding the causes or contributing factors associated with the occurrence, as the investigation remains ongoing.
The Bureau, however said it would 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.