The Nigeria Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) has revealed that no fatalities were recorded in an accident involving an HS 125 aircraft with Nationality and Registration Marks 5N-AMM belonging to Flint Aero, which occurred at about 08:21pm (Local Time) on November 3, 2023.
The aircraft, with 10 passengers and three crew members onboard en-route Ibadan from Abuja, during its final approach to landing on Runway 22 in Ibadan Airport, reportedly crashed short of the runway.
NSIB, in a statement, signed by the Director, Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, James Odaudu, stated that the agency has commenced investigation into the accident.
“No fatality, as all passengers and crew were safely evacuated,” he stated.
The agency solicited for the assistance of the public as it investigates the incident, saying: “We want the public to know that we would be amenable to receiving any video clip, relevant evidence or information any members of the public may have of the accident that can assist us with this investigation.
“The Bureau will appreciate that the general public and press respect the privacy of the people involved and not assume the cause of the serious incident until a formal report is released.”
The Bureau assured that a preliminary report of the incident would be released as soon as possible. The aircraft was reportedly conveying the Minister of Power, Chief Adebayo Adelabu and some of his aides. It was also said to have had an initial contact with the control tower at 18:56 seeking an extension, which was granted by the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA).
However, the aircraft landed short of the threshold by about 50 metres and skidded into a bushy ditch close to the runway.
It was gathered that the incident happened after the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMET) issued a travel warning based on hazy weather.
The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) had also advised pilots and airline operators to exercise caution over hazardous weather as the dry season approaches.
A source around the airport told The Guardian in the wee hours of Saturday that the incident happened last Friday around 6.00 pm.
The source said: “The aircraft conveying the Minister of Power, Chief Adebayo, from Abuja airport crashed landed at the Ibadan airport at about 0810hrs today November 3, 2023 due to poor lighting system at the runway. The pilot landed at a wrong place on the tarmac of Samuel Ladoke Akintola airport.
“The aircraft did not go up in flames as the aviation fire service personnel quickly moved to the crash site. The minister and his aides have been evacuated without any injury.”
(Guardian)
