ABUJA — The investigation into the controversial roadway landing of a private jet near Asaba, Delta State, intensified on Friday as the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) confirmed the recovery of the aircraft’s Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR) and Flight Data Recorder (FDR), while aviation authorities imposed sanctions on the operator.
The recovered “black boxes” are expected to provide crucial evidence into the circumstances that led the Bombardier Challenger CL-601 aircraft to land on a road under construction in the Ogwashi-Uku area near Asaba instead of at the Asaba International Airport.
The aircraft, registered as N989BC and operated by VMO Aero Limited, was flying from Lagos to Asaba on June 10 when the crew reportedly executed a missed approach at about 7:43 a.m. local time before landing on the roadway.
All four crew members on board escaped unharmed and were transported to Asaba by road. However, the incident took a more controversial turn after the aircraft later departed the location and returned to Lagos without obtaining regulatory clearance from aviation authorities.
Confirming the development, NSIB Director General, Captain Alex Badeh, said investigators swiftly activated emergency response procedures and deployed a Go Team to the scene following notification of the occurrence.
“The immediate deployment of our investigative team and the recovery of the Cockpit Voice Recorder and Flight Data Recorder are critical steps that will help establish the facts of this incident,” Badeh said.
The recovered recorders will now undergo detailed analysis to determine the sequence of events leading to the unusual landing and the aircraft’s subsequent departure from the site.
Meanwhile, the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has grounded the aircraft and suspended VMO Aero Limited’s permit for non-commercial flight operations pending the outcome of investigations.
The aviation regulator is also conducting a comprehensive review of the flight crew, maintenance records, operational procedures, airworthiness documentation, and other regulatory compliance requirements linked to the aircraft.
Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has ordered a full-scale probe into the incident, describing the aircraft’s unauthorized departure from the accident site as a serious violation of aviation regulations.
Industry stakeholders have raised concerns over the incident, with experts noting that the findings could have far-reaching implications for private jet operations, flight safety standards, and regulatory enforcement within Nigeria’s aviation sector.
The NSIB said investigations remain ongoing and assured the public that updates would be provided as significant findings emerge.
The incident has sparked widespread debate across the aviation industry, particularly over adherence to safety protocols and oversight mechanisms governing private aircraft operations in the country.
