What happened
On December 14, 2025, a Hawker 800XP business jet, bearing registration 5N-ISB and operated by Flybird Aircraft Management Services Limited, arrived at Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport (DNKN) from Abuja. The aircraft was conducting an Instrument Flight Rules charter flight with three crew members and eight passengers on board.
During the final approach to Runway 06, the flight crew encountered a discrepancy in the landing gear status indicators. While the main landing gear showed normal green light indications, the nose landing gear displayed a red warning light. The crew attempted to cycle the gear once, but the indication remained unchanged. To verify the physical position of the landing gear, the tower authorized two low-pass maneuvers over the runway. During both passes, air traffic control visually confirmed that all three landing gears appeared to be fully extended and locked.
Despite the conflicting cockpit indications and the visual confirmation from the tower, the crew elected to land. The aircraft touched down on its main wheels at a distance of 2,201 meters from the runway threshold. The flight crew held the nose wheel off the ground for an extended period before finally allowing it to touch down. Shortly after contact with the pavement, the nose landing gear collapsed. The aircraft veered slightly left of the centerline and dragged its nose section for approximately 514 meters before coming to a stop.
Emergency response teams arrived promptly, but there was no fire. All 11 individuals on board disembarked without sustaining any injuries. The aircraft sustained minor structural damage, specifically to the lower nose section and the nose landing gear wheel well doors, which detached during the incident.
The investigation
The Nigeria Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) dispatched investigators to the site immediately following the notification by the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency. The bureau conducted a preliminary inspection of the wreckage and reviewed initial evidence, including witness statements and air traffic control recordings.
Key factual elements established during this preliminary phase include:
- The flight crew held valid certifications and medical certificates at the time of the flight.
- The aircraft's Certificate of Airworthiness had expired on November 7, 2025, prior to the occurrence.
- Toxicology tests conducted on the flight crew were negative for alcohol and drugs, and medical examinations showed no physiological factors that would have degraded pilot performance.
- The navigation aids, including the ILS for Runway 06, were reported as serviceable.
- The Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR) and Flight Data Recorder (FDR) were retrieved and downloaded for further analysis.
Findings
The preliminary investigation has established that the nose landing gear collapsed upon touchdown. The crew had performed two low passes to confirm visually that the gear was down, as indicated by air traffic control, despite the cockpit warning light remaining red. The aircraft's airworthiness certificate was not valid at the time of the incident.
Safety action
The investigation is ongoing. The NSIB is awaiting the operator's report regarding the repair and troubleshooting procedures required to return the aircraft to service. A final report will be compiled once the investigation is complete.