NSIB Recovers Flight Recorders From Aircraft In Asaba Roadway Landing

The Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) has recovered and secured the Cockpit Voice Recorder and Flight Data Recorder from the private aircraft involved in the controversial Asaba roadway landing incident.

The recovery marks a major step in efforts to determine the circumstances surrounding the incident.

The aircraft, a Bombardier Challenger CL-601 with registration number N989BC, operated by VMO Aero Limited, was involved in the incident on Wednesday when it landed on a roadway near Asaba, Delta State.

It was said to have been on a flight from Lagos before later departing the scene without regulatory approval.

In a statement on Thursday, the NSIB said it activated its emergency response procedures immediately after receiving notification of the occurrence.

The bureau said it dispatched an investigative “Go Team” to the site to begin a full-scale investigation.

According to the agency, the recovered flight recorders will help establish what transpired in the cockpit and the aircraft’s performance during the incident.

“As part of this rapid response, the aircraft’s Cockpit Voice Recorder and Flight Data Recorder have been successfully retrieved and secured for detailed analysis,” the NSIB said.

The NSIB added that investigators were also collecting operational, maintenance and air traffic control records related to the flight.

It said it was coordinating with stakeholders and regulatory authorities in line with international aviation investigation protocols.

The Director-General of the NSIB, Capt. Alex Badeh Jr. said the swift recovery of the flight recorders was critical to establishing the facts.

Badeh said, “The NSIB acted promptly following the occurrence on June 10, 2026. The immediate deployment of our investigative Go Team and the swift recovery of the Cockpit Voice Recorder and Flight Data Recorder are critical steps that will help establish the facts of this incident.

“We are relieved that there were no reported fatalities or serious injuries. Our commitment remains the advancement of aviation safety in Nigeria.”

The incident has drawn attention within Nigeria’s aviation sector, especially after reports that the aircraft landed on a roadway and later departed without returning to a designated airport facility.

The NSIB said ongoing investigative activities would include detailed analysis of the recovered flight recorders, examination of technical and operational records, interviews with relevant personnel and review of additional evidence.

The bureau appealed to members of the public who witnessed the incident or have photographs, videos, CCTV footage or other relevant information to assist investigators.

“The objective of the investigation is to determine the circumstances and contributing factors and to issue safety recommendations to prevent recurrence. The investigation is conducted solely for the advancement of transportation safety and does not seek to apportion blame or determine liability,” the agency stated.