The Chief of Air Staff, Sunday Aneke, has directed the constitution of a panel to investigate the recent crash of a Nigerian Air Force ATR-42 aircraft in Ondo State. The aircraft crashed on Monday while on a routine mission from Benin City to Lagos, with 25 persons on board. Mr Aneke visited the crash site on Thursday, accompanied by senior officers of the force. He described the incident as a great loss and assured that the investigation will get to the bottom of what happened.
The aircraft crashed in a swampy area at Igbokoda in Ilaje Local Government Area, making rescue efforts challenging. Despite deploying heavy machinery, the main body of the plane remains trapped beneath the mud. Three days after the crash, all hope of any survivor has been lost. The NAF authorities have confirmed that only torn clothes, body parts, and pieces of the plane's panels have been recovered so far.
The investigation panel will comprise both military and civilian safety experts, including representatives from the Accident and Emergency Management Board and the National Transportation Safety Board. Mr Aneke appealed for patience and urged the public not to speculate about the cause of the crash. He emphasized that the specialists will work to determine what happened and assured that the Nigerian Armed Forces will provide necessary support to the families of those who lost their loved ones.
Mr Aneke expressed sympathy with the families of the victims, whom he described as highly trained, professional, and intelligent officers. He commended the people and government of Ondo State for their efforts in the recovery operations. The locals were the first responders, and the state government deployed two swamp buggies to aid access to the crash site.
The Ondo State Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, expressed concerns over the inability of the rescue teams to locate the main body of the plane despite efforts over the last three days. He acknowledged the deployment of resources, time, and energy in the recovery efforts. The state government's support has been crucial in the rescue operations.
The Nigerian Air Force is committed to providing adequate support to the bereaved families. Mr Aneke assured that the force will keep the families on guard to ensure their safety. The incident has been met with an outpouring of support from the local community, with many Nigerians coming together to offer assistance in the face of tragedy.
The investigation into the crash is expected to provide a detailed report on the circumstances surrounding the incident. The Nigerian Air Force has promised to be transparent in its findings and to take necessary steps to prevent similar incidents in the future. The incident has raised concerns about the safety of military aircraft and the need for thorough investigations into such incidents.
Key points
- The Nigerian Air Force has set up an investigation panel to determine the cause of the ATR-42 aircraft crash in Ondo State.
- The incident resulted in the loss of 25 lives, with the main body of the plane still trapped beneath the mud.
- The Nigerian Air Force has assured that it will provide adequate support to the bereaved families.
