US pilot grounded, banned from Nigerian skies after Asaba runway mix-up

The NCAA has barred the American captain who landed a private jet on a road under construction at Asaba Airport, and suspended his co-pilot while investigations continue.

Capt. Chris Najomo, the civil aviation chief, announced the sanctions Thursday at an industry summit in Lagos.

The aircraft, a Bombardier Challenger 601-3A, registered N989BC and owned by VMO Aero Limited, touched down on a worksite instead of the runway on June 10. Four crew and three passengers were aboard.

Najomo said the NCAA moved after the NSIB wrapped its safety inquiry and passed the regulatory baton to the authority.

The pilot has been pulled from all flight duties in Nigeria and told he cannot operate within the country's airspace. The jet is parked, and its non-commercial flight permit has been revoked.

"Investigation is still ongoing," Najomo said. "NSIB has passed it to us, and we are now handling the regulatory side."

He confirmed the DSS has also joined the probe, underlining the gravity of the incident.

"I've flown for 45 years, I wouldn't mistake a road for a runway. So we are probing other angles," he added.

Najomo promised a full, open inquiry and said penalties would follow where warranted.

The NSIB's preliminary report revealed that the jet's left nose-wheel assembly was damaged after the mislanding. The flight had come from Lagos and was on its second approach to Runway 11, having aborted the first.