An investigation has been launched to uncover what caused the crash-landing of a chartered aircraft whose passengers included the Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu.
It was reported earlier that the HS 125 aircraft operated by Flint Aero with registration number 5N-AMM, crash-landed in Ibadan, Oyo State on Friday evening, October 3.
Investigations carried out by The Nation showed that the airport does not have the requisite Instrument Landing System (ILS) calibrated for flight operations for the aerodrome. It was gathered that industry experts are worried about the parlous state of air navigation equipment at airports across the country, describing it as a threat to air safety.
Confirming the state of facilities at Ibadan Airport, a senior official of NAMA said the aerodrome had no ILS.
Director General of Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Captain Musa Nuhu also noted that most of the airport facilities do not meet the minimum international requirements.
Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Mr Festus Keyamo who berated the National Airports Management Agency (NAMA) for its “obsolete and inadequate” air navigation facilities, said the Federal Government was getting concerned about the state of air navigation equipment at airports, saying many pending contracts involving obsolete equipment by NAMA would be cancelled.
Asides from pointing out that the accident involving the aircraft might be associated with poor landing equipment by NAMA, Keyamo has announced that the Federal Government has evolved measures to ensure proper coordination among the agencies.
A preliminary report on the incident issued on Saturday, October 4, by the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) revealed that the aircraft was still in the bush at runway 22.
It read;
“At about 0825hrs of 03/11/2023, an aircraft with registration number 5N-AMM that conveyed the incumbent Minister of Power, AbdulWaheed Adebayo Adelabu, and his entourage crash-landed along runway 22 and skid off the runway into a nearby bush.
“The control tower reported on radio that he lost communication with the just landed aircraft and immediately called on the ARFFS, the AVSEC and other needed airport officials reported almost immediately to the scene.
“The 3 cabin crews and the 7 Passengers were all rescued from the damaged aircraft. All efforts to get details from the pilot proved abortive. Also at the scene were the NAF airport commandant and his team.
“As at the time of filing this report, the aircraft was still in the bush at runway 22 while the security personnel of both AVSEC, ARFFS, Airport Safety team and NAF team were on standby for cover.”
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