The regulatory authority also suspended the aircraft's First Officer and grounded the aircraft involved, pending the outcome of an ongoing investigation into the incident that raised fresh concerns over aviation safety and security in the country.
The aircraft, a Bombardier Challenger 601-3A operated by VMO Aero Limited and bearing the American registration number N989BC, reportedly landed on an uncompleted roadway instead of the runway at Asaba Airport on June 10, 2026.
Director-General of Civil Aviation, Chris Najomo, disclosed the development on the sidelines of the ongoing Airport Business Summit in Lagos, explaining that the NCAA had assumed responsibility for the regulatory aspect of the investigation after the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) concluded its initial safety inquiry.
According to Najomo, the authority acted swiftly by suspending the pilot-in-command from flight operations in Nigeria and prohibiting him from flying within the country's airspace. He added that the aircraft remains grounded, while its Permit for Non-Commercial Flight (PNCF) has also been suspended.
“About the Asaba incident, well, the investigation is still ongoing. NSIB has handed the investigation to us, the CAA, and we are doing our own investigation,” Najomo said.
He explained that while the NSIB's responsibility was to determine the safety-related causes of the occurrence, the NCAA is now examining possible regulatory violations and any other issues that may have contributed to the incident.
Najomo further disclosed that the Department of State Services (DSS) has joined the investigation, underscoring the seriousness with which the authorities are treating the matter.
“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. Me as a pilot for 45 years, I will not see a road and land on the road. So, we will look at the other motives too.
“So the DSS got involved and they are investigating until those investigations come out, it remains like that,” he said.
The NCAA boss assured stakeholders and the travelling public that the investigation would be thorough, transparent and guided by established aviation regulations, adding that anyone found culpable would face appropriate regulatory sanctions.
Beyond the Asaba incident, Najomo said the Airport Business Summit provided an important platform for aviation stakeholders to deliberate on key issues affecting the industry, including airport operations, airline sustainability and regulatory reforms.
He also acknowledged concerns raised by operators over alleged monopoly and anti-competitive practices within the aviation sector, noting that the NCAA would examine such complaints to ensure fairness across the industry.
According to him, the authority remains committed to creating a level playing field for operators, protecting passengers' interests, promoting the commercial sustainability of airlines and preventing excessive charges within the aviation value chain.
The sanctions come weeks after the unusual landing incident involving the foreign-registered aircraft sparked widespread concern across Nigeria's aviation industry, following reports that the flight crew mistakenly landed on an unfinished roadway instead of the airport runway.
The incident prompted the NSIB to launch a safety investigation in line with international aviation standards before transferring the regulatory component of the case to the NCAA for further action.