The Accident Investigation Bureau, AIB, has released four preliminary accident investigation reports into the serious accident and incidents involving Air Peace, Max air, United Nigeria airline and the police air wing.
Spokesman for the Bureau, Mr. Tunji Oketunbi in a chat with Radio Nigeria in Lagos said the reports released are not the final reports but details of the serious accidents and incidents investigated.
“The preliminary reports are just factual information at the site of the incident or accident, witnesses, pilots, the crew and any other persons related to the operation of that aircraft. Preliminary report will not disclose to you the cause of the incident or the accident, they are just factual information to keep members of the public abreast of the process of investigation”.
According to him, following the preliminary reports would be the final report which would be more detailed with probable causes among others.
The preliminary report as released by the AIB are the serious incident involving United Nigeria Airlines Embraer 145LR aircraft at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, on November 17, 2021, serious incident involving Max Air Boeing 737-300 aircraft also at the Abuja airport in an on-ground collision with Skyway Aviation Handling Co. Plc (SAHCO) lavatory service truck on November 21, 2021.
Others are, the serious incident involving a Boeing 737-300 aircraft owned and operated by Air Peace Limited at the Sam Mbakwe Airport, Owerri, Nigeria enroute Lagos on November 22, 2021 and an accident involving a Bell 429 helicopter owned and operated by Nigeria Police Air Wing at the Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa Airport, Bauchi, on 26th January, 2022.
Mr. Oketunbi attributed the timely release of preliminary and final investigation reports by the Bureau in the last six years to leadership quality and dedication to duty by the staff.
“Is essentially leadership, the ability to turn things around, the ability to deploy the available resources for the purpose of the investigation of aircraft accident and incident and also the determination and commitment of the workforce”.
He assured the flying public and stakeholders in the industry that, the bureau would continue to carryout its assigned responsibilities to enhance air safety.
Mr. Oketunbi said, details of the preliminary reports can be downloaded from the bureau website http://www.aib.gov.ng