The Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) has released a preliminary report concerning the Bombardier Challenger 601-3A aircraft that landed on an under-construction road near Asaba Airport, Delta State. On June 10, 2026, the flight, operated by VMO Aero Limited, departed Lagos for Asaba under Instrument Flight Rules. Despite initial indications suggesting the flight crew had established the aircraft on the Runway 11 approach, the jet touched down on a nearby roadway instead of the airport tarmac.
Official reports confirm that the seven individuals on board, consisting of four crew members and three passengers, were unharmed. Mrs. Funke Adebayo-Arowojobe, speaking for the NSIB, confirmed that the aircraft was inspected after the incident and later flew back to Lagos. While the left nose-wheel assembly sustained damage, no other operational issues were noted. Investigators are currently analyzing data from the cockpit voice and flight data recorders.
Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, clarified that the incident was not caused by mechanical malfunction. He noted that the pilots mistakenly identified a construction road as the runway after receiving landing clearance. The situation has since shifted to a security investigation involving the Department of State Service, as the aircraft departed the site after offloading passengers without immediate authorization.
