Nigerian aircraft aborted landing attempt before road touchdown, investigators report

A Bombardier Challenger CL-601 aircraft aborted its initial landing attempt at Asaba Airport in Nigeria before successfully touching down on a construction road during a second approach. The Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) released a preliminary report detailing the June 10 incident, which involved seven people aboard.

The aircraft, registered as N989BC and operated by VMO Aero Limited, was flying from Lagos to Asaba when the occurrence happened. The flight crew reported that their navigation systems indicated a correct approach to Runway 11. Despite these indications, the plane landed on a paved construction area near the runway.

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The preliminary report provides information gathered during the early stages of the investigation.

No injuries were reported among the four crew members and three passengers. The aircraft was shut down and inspected, allowing passengers to disembark safely. It later departed from the construction road and returned to Lagos without further operational issues. However, a post-flight inspection revealed damage to the aircraft's left nose-wheel assembly.

The NSIB's preliminary report is based on information from the flight crew, witnesses, air traffic control, operational documents, and data from the aircraft's Cockpit Voice Recorder and Flight Data Recorder. The bureau stated that technical examinations and analysis are ongoing, and further findings may emerge as the investigation progresses. Previously, the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority had grounded the aircraft and suspended VMO Aero Limited's permit, citing concerns about the flight crew's actions and the aircraft's departure without regulatory clearance.

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No injuries were recorded.