Asaba plane made first landing attempt but ended on construction road, NSIB

The Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) has revealed that the Bombardier Challenger CL-601 aircraft involved in last month’s landing incident in Asaba aborted its first approach before trying again and landing on a construction road near the airport.

The bureau shared this information in a preliminary investigation report released on Friday. This report gives the first official account of what happened on June 10.

The report states that the aircraft, with the registration N989BC and operated by VMO Aero Limited, was flying under Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) from Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos to Asaba Airport when the incident occurred.

The NSIB noted that the flight crew stopped their first approach before trying a second approach to Runway 11.

The investigators said the crew mentioned that the aircraft's navigation systems showed they were correctly on the published Area Navigation (RNAV) approach for Runway 11. But despite these indications, the aircraft landed on a construction road instead of the runway.

There were seven people on board, including four crew members and three passengers. The report confirmed that “No injuries were recorded.”

The aircraft returned to Lagos

After landing, the NSIB said the aircraft was shut down and checked. Passengers were able to get off safely. The aircraft then left the construction road and flew back to Lagos without any further issues.

A post-flight inspection found damage to the aircraft’s left nose-wheel assembly. The bureau mentioned that this preliminary report is based on information from the flight crew, witnesses, air traffic control records, operational documents, and an examination of the aircraft.

Investigators also looked at data from the aircraft’s Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR) and Flight Data Recorder (FDR), which were taken to the NSIB’s Transport Safety Laboratory in Abuja for review. The NSIB said technical examinations and detailed analysis are still ongoing.

“The preliminary report provides information gathered during the early stages of the investigation,” stated the NSIB. They noted that more findings could come out as the investigation continues.

Earlier developments

PREMIUM TIMES had reported that the incident led the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) to ground the aircraft immediately and suspend VMO Aero Limited’s Permit for Non-Commercial Flight (PNCF).

The regulator also placed the flight crew under review after it was found that the aircraft returned to Lagos without getting the necessary clearance. The NSIB later retrieved the aircraft’s Cockpit Voice Recorder and Flight Data Recorder to find out what happened during the incident.

VMO Aero stated that its crew had stopped what they called an unstable initial approach before trying to land again. They confirmed that no injuries or damage occurred and promised to cooperate fully with investigators.

Further findings

PREMIUM TIMES also noted that the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, said early findings showed the aircraft did not have any mechanical issues. He explained that the aircraft was cleared to land at Asaba Airport. Still, the pilots mistakenly thought a nearby construction road was the runway. This incident is also being looked at by relevant security agencies for national security reasons.

The NSIB emphasized that the preliminary report aims to provide factual information from the early investigation stages. It does not assign blame or determine liability. A final report with safety recommendations will be released when the investigation wraps up.