The Accident Investigation Bureau, AIB, has submitted the interim investigation report into the Air Force plane crash in Kaduna to the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Oladapo Amao.
The plane crash occurred in the vicinity of the Kaduna Civil Airport on 21 May 2021, killing all on board including the chief of army staff, Lieut. Gen. Ibrahim Attahiru.
In a joint statement by the Spokesman of the AIB, Mr. Tunji Oketunbi, and the Air Force spokesman, Air Commodore Edward Gabkwet, the interim report has a total of 27 initial findings and 8 immediate safety recommendations made for the convening authority as well as other aviation-related agencies for immediate implementation.
According to them, It is expected that the final report will contain the flight data recorder readout, the reviewed operator’s and service provider’s standard operating procedures as well as other detailed analyses.
The submitted report is said to be organized into three sections namely; the information obtained in the course of the investigation; analysis of data collected in view of the Board’s Terms of Reference; and the conclusion, which covers the initial findings and immediate recommendations.
They stated that, while receiving the report, the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Oladapo Amao, reiterated the main essence of activating the ‘joint investigative’ clause contained in the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed between the NAF and the AIB on 1 July 2020.
According to him, successful collaboration is a clear indication of the potency of collaboration in aircraft accident investigation, which must be encouraged.
Air Marshal Amao also noted that such collaborative efforts make accident investigations more transparent and open while also stating that the outcome of the investigation is not necessarily aimed at punitive measures but essentially at generally improving safety in the aviation industry.
joint investigation with NAF
On his part, the Chief Executive Officer of AIB, Mr. Akin Olateru stated that the joint investigation with the NAF was its first direct involvement in military air crash investigation in Nigeria and second investigation outside its mandate having also assisted Sao Tome and Principe in the past.
He also stated that copies of the report, with the endorsement of the CAS, will also be submitted to the Minister of Aviation and Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) to ensure that the recommendations addressed to aviation agencies are implemented.
The Commissioner also stated that although the accident involved a military aircraft and crew, it happened at a civil airport adding that the involvement of AIB in the investigation by the Nigerian Air Force would help in closing the gaps on the civil aviation side.
After the ill-fated crash, the Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Oladayo Amao directed that a joint investigative body consisting of experienced NAF safety officers and the Accident Investigative Bureau (AIB) be constituted to investigate the circumstances surrounding the air crash.
RN