The federal government on Wednesday announced the outright ban of the American pilot who landed a Bombardier Challenger 601-3A with registration number N989BC on a road under construction in Asaba from flying within Nigerian airspace.
The plane is managed by an aircraft acquisition and management firm VMO Aero Limited which claims it also “oversee every detail of private jet ownership and charter—from flight and ground operations to maintenance oversight, crew coordination, and regulatory compliance.
The aircraft had taken off from Lagos into Asaba airport in Delta state but instead landed on a road on June 10th 2026, something considered a serious violation in aviation regulations.
Speaking at the 2026 Airports Business Summit in Lagos, Director-General of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Captain Chris Ona Najomo said whilst the said aircraft have been grounded having suspended it permit for operations, the NCAA have also enforced necessary actions against the company after taking over the from the investigative body, the the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB).
The DGCA explained saying “Regarding the the Asaba incident, the investigation is still ongoing. The NSIB has handed the investigation to us, the CAA, and we are doing our own investigation. 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.
