Challenger 601 Lands on Nigeria Highway after Go-around

A Bombardier Challenger 601-3A operated by VMO Aero landed on a road near Asaba International Airport (DNAS) in Nigeria on Wednesday after a go-around following an RNAV approach to the airport’s 11,155-foot runway. The pilots landed the Challenger on a 7,000-foot stretch of highway that was under construction and adjacent to the runway, according to Marc Didier, owner of Best Aircraft Deals, the registered owner of Challenger N989BC, and charter provider VMO Aero.

In a statement about the off-airport landing, the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) said the aircraft “conducted a missed approach at approximately 0743 local time while attempting to land at Asaba. Subsequently, the aircraft reportedly landed on a roadway in the Ogwashi-Uku area near Asaba. Reports received from personnel at the scene indicate that all occupants safely exited the aircraft and were transported to Asaba by road.”

There were four passengers and three pilots on board, Didier told AIN. He added that the pilots were all highly experienced and captain-qualified, with one sitting in the jump seat.

From the information that Didier has been able to gather, while on the visual approach segment to Asaba’s runway, the pilot flying decided to go around because the Challenger was too high and too fast. The pilots tried to reprogram the flight management system for the second approach, and when this didn’t work out, instead of going around again, they landed on the highway. “Thank goodness it was fully asphalted, with no traffic, and had 7,000 feet of cleared space,” he said.

Didier has a hard time understanding why three experienced pilots didn’t notice the road had no runway threshold or numbers and was only 35 feet wide, not 100 feet like a typical runway. “At which point did you realize you’re landing somewhere you shouldn’t be?” he asked rhetorically.

The pilot reported that he saw the centerline of the road and that both of the other pilots confirmed that the runway was in sight and clear. By the time the pilots realized they were not landing on Asaba’s runway, it was too late to go around, and they were committed to landing on the highway.

However, the NCAA information diverges from Didier’s account of what occurred after the landing. The passengers were picked up and taken to their destination. But according to the NCAA, “The aircraft subsequently departed the location at approximately 1102 GMT and returned to Lagos without obtaining the requisite regulatory approval.”

Didier said the pilots radioed the Asaba tower controller and asked if they could take off from the highway, but the controller said no. The pilots then contacted the airport manager, who authorized the takeoff and gave the tower controller permission to clear the jet to depart from the highway. Meanwhile, one of the pilots walked the 7,000-foot roadway to make sure it was clear of obstructions and to let the workers know they would be taking off.

The pilots took off and returned to Lagos. The NCAA’s account said, “The Authority has also been informed that air traffic control was notified only after the aircraft had become airborne.

“This action constitutes a violation of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Regulations and is currently under investigation by the Authority. Upon its arrival in Lagos, the NCAA immediately grounded the aircraft pending the outcome of its investigation.

“The flight crew have been placed under regulatory review while the NCAA conducts further inquiries into the circumstances surrounding the occurrence and the subsequent unauthorized departure of the aircraft.”

Didier confirmed that the NCAA temporarily suspended VMO Aero’s air operator certificate (AOC) and that the NCAA has retrieved the cockpit voice recording from the Challenger. “We know they had authorization to take off,” he said.

While Didier understands that there may have been an error in the Challenger’s navigation database and that there were intermittent problems with one of the jet’s flight management systems, he expressed surprise that such an experienced crew, including the trip captain with 16,000 hours TT and 6,000 hours in type, could have made such a mistake. “It’s quite embarrassing,” he admitted.

“Obviously, these guys will be dismissed. As an operator, we do everything we can to make sure the aircraft is airworthy and up to date, and the crew qualified. Once it leaves, it’s in the pilots’ hands.”

As for resolving the AOC suspension, he said, “We’re still in the process with the NCAA. They’re very strict with rules and regulations—by far the most strict civil aviation authority in Africa. In this business, there’s no making mistakes, and we try to make sure everything we operate is tip-top.”