VMO Aero, a company that manages and acquires aircraft, has shared more information about the recent incident involving one of its jets. This incident led to the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) grounding the aircraft.
In a statement on Friday, VMO Aero explained that the plane took off from Lagos to Asaba on Wednesday, 10 June. While getting ready to land at the airport, the crew faced some challenges.
“The aircraft departed Lagos, and during its initial approach into Asaba Airport, the flight crew determined that the approach was unstable, leading to a discontinued approach,” said Oluwaseun Ayodeji, the accountable manager at VMO Aero.
He mentioned that the crew tried to land again, but the aircraft ended up on a road next to the airport’s runway.
VMO Aero is working with aviation authorities looking into the incident. This includes the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau and the NCAA. They promised to help with the investigation and to look into any safety recommendations that might come from it.
“We appreciate the seriousness with which the authorities view any event that may affect the integrity of flight operations and compliance with regulatory requirements,” Mr. Ayodeji said.
The company also expressed regret over what happened and any trouble it caused to the public.
VMO Aero confirmed that no one on board the aircraft was hurt, and there was no damage to property. They added that the aircraft safely returned to Lagos after the incident.
Earlier, the NCAA grounded the Bombardier Challenger CL-601 aircraft operated by VMO Aero. They also suspended the company’s Permit for Non-Commercial Flight (PNCF) after the incident.
The NCAA said early reports showed the aircraft missed its landing attempt at Asaba Airport and ended up on a road in Ogwashi-Uku, which is near the airport.
The NCAA also raised concerns because the aircraft flew back to Lagos without getting the necessary approval. This issue will also be part of their ongoing review.
Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development Festus Keyamo has instructed aviation agencies to fully investigate the incident.
On Thursday, the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) announced that they have recovered the aircraft’s Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR) and Flight Data Recorder (FDR). Investigators said they will analyze these devices along with operational, maintenance, and air traffic control records to find out what happened.
Through this investigation, the NSIB aims to identify what led to the incident and make recommendations to prevent similar events in the future.
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