LAGOS, Nigeria — The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has suspended the pilots involved in the recent Asaba roadway landing incident, barring them from operating in Nigerian airspace pending the outcome of an ongoing investigation, while also grounding the aircraft.
Chris Najomo, Director-General of the NCAA, announced the regulatory action on Wednesday on the sidelines of the Airport Business Summit held in Lagos, confirming that the aircraft’s Permit for Non-Commercial Flight (PNCF) has also been suspended.
“The investigation is still ongoing. The NSIB has handed the investigation to us, the NCAA, and we are doing our own investigation,” Najomo said. “As we speak, the aircraft is grounded, the PNCF is suspended, and the pilots are suspended from flying in this airspace until we come up with our own investigation.”
The incident occurred on June 10, 2026, when a Bombardier Challenger 601-3A private jet, operated by VMO Aero Limited with registration N989BC, landed on a road under construction in the Ogwashi-Uku area near Asaba, Delta State, instead of the Asaba airport runway. The aircraft later departed the location and returned to Lagos without obtaining the required regulatory approval, prompting the NCAA’s intervention.
The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority, the pilot-in-command and second-in-command of the chartered aircraft, the Department of State Services, and the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau are all central to the ongoing probe. The aircraft was carrying four crew members and three passengers at the time of the incident.
The NCAA has suspended both pilots from flying in Nigerian airspace and grounded the aircraft, suspending its Permit to Fly, as the regulatory investigation takes over from the initial safety inquiry conducted by the NSIB.
The sanctions were announced on July 15, 2026, following the June 10, 2026 incident. The investigation remains ongoing with no fixed timeline for completion.
The incident occurred near Asaba Airport in Delta State, with the regulatory actions and announcements made in Lagos.
The landing incident has raised serious concerns within the aviation industry, prompting multiple agencies to investigate possible motives beyond pilot error. The NSIB’s preliminary report indicated the crew had struggled with visibility and navigational alignment issues.
Investigators are exploring all possible angles, including the pilot’s experience and the observer pilot’s claims of FMS programming discrepancies.
The sanctions affect the crew involved, the aircraft operator, and have broader implications for aviation safety oversight in Nigeria.
The NCAA has taken over the regulatory phase from the NSIB, with the DSS also conducting a parallel inquiry. The aircraft will remain grounded, and the pilots suspended, until investigations are concluded.
