The Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) has recovered and secured the Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR) and Flight Data Recorder (FDR) of the Bombardier Challenger CL-601 aircraft involved in the unusual incident in which a private jet landed on a roadway near Asaba, Delta State, as investigators intensify efforts to determine the circumstances surrounding the occurrence.
The aircraft, with registration number N989BC and operated by VMO Aero Limited, was flying from Lagos to Asaba on Wednesday, 10 June 2026, when it reportedly landed on a roadway before subsequently departing the location.
In a statement issued on Thursday, the NSIB said it immediately activated its emergency response procedures upon receiving notification of the occurrence and dispatched its investigative “Go Team” to the scene near Asaba to commence inquiries.
According to the Bureau, one of the first major breakthroughs in the investigation was the successful retrieval of the aircraft’s Cockpit Voice Recorder and Flight Data Recorder, commonly referred to as the “black boxes”, which are expected to provide crucial information regarding the events leading up to the incident.
The agency disclosed that, in addition to analysing the recovered recorders, investigators are collecting operational and maintenance documents, as well as air traffic control records, to establish a comprehensive understanding of the circumstances surrounding the occurrence.
NSIB noted that it is working in close collaboration with relevant stakeholders and authorities in accordance with the Civil Aviation (Investigation of Air Accidents and Incidents) Regulations and the provisions of Annex 13 of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), with appropriate notifications already sent to the relevant state authorities.
Director-General of the NSIB, Captain Alex Badeh Jr., said the prompt recovery of the black boxes represented a critical milestone in the investigation.
“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,” Badeh stated.
He stressed that the Bureau’s mandate is centred on improving transport safety and not on assigning blame or determining liability.
The NSIB explained that the ongoing investigation will involve detailed analysis of the flight recorders, examination of technical and operational documentation, interviews with relevant personnel and review of additional evidence that may emerge.
The Bureau also appealed to members of the public who witnessed the incident or possess photographs, video recordings, CCTV footage or any information that could assist investigators to forward such materials through its official communication channels.
It emphasised that the objective of the investigation is to determine the factors that contributed to the incident and to make safety recommendations aimed at preventing a recurrence.
The development comes barely a day after the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, ordered an immediate investigation into the occurrence, while the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) grounded the aircraft and suspended the Air Operator Certificate of VMO Aero Limited pending the outcome of the probe.
The incident, which drew widespread attention within Nigeria’s aviation industry, ended without fatalities or serious injuries, but has renewed focus on operational safety and regulatory oversight in the country’s private aviation sector.
NSIB reiterated that further updates would be made available as significant progress is recorded in the investigation.
The Bureau, headed by Captain Alex Badeh Jr., is Nigeria’s multimodal transport accident investigation agency responsible for conducting independent and objective investigations into air, rail, marine and other transportation occurrences with the aim of enhancing safety and preventing future accidents.
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