By Augustine Ehikioya
The Nigeria’s Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Oladayo Amao, on Wednesday insisted that the ongoing joint investigation of accident involving a Nigerian Air Force (NAF) King Air -350 aircraft at the vicinity of Kaduna Civil Airport on 21st May, 2021, was not necessarily for punishment.
According to him, the joint probe by experienced NAF safety officers and the Accident Investigative Bureau (AIB) is mainly to improve safety in the aviation industry.
He spoke in Abuja while receiving the interim report on the crash after three months of joint investigation.
According to a Joint Press Release signed by NAF Director of Public Relations and Information, Air Commodore, Edward Gabkwet, and General Manager {Public Affairs) of AIB, Tunji Oketunbi, and made available to Security Watch Africa (SWA), said a total of 27 initial findings and 8 immediate safety recommendations were made in the interim report.
The final report, according to the statement, is expected to contain the flight data recorder readout, the reviewed operator’s and service provider’s standard operating procedures and other detailed analysis.
While receiving the report, the Air Chief highlighted 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.
He said “the successful collaboration is a clear indication of the potency of collaboration in aircraft accident investigation, which must be encouraged.
“Such collaborative efforts make accident investigations more transparent and open. The outcome of the investigation is not necessarily aimed at punitive measures but essentially at generally improving safety in the aviation industry.”
The Commissioner and Chief Executive Officer of AIB, Engr 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.
Copies of the report with the endorsement of the CAS, he said, will also be submitted to the Hon. Minister of Aviation and Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) to ensure that the recommendations addressed to aviation agencies are implemented.
The Commissioner also said “that although the accident involved a military aircraft and crew, it happened at a civil airport. The involvement of AIB in the investigation by the Nigerian Air Force would help in closing the gaps on the civil aviation side.”
The statement disclosed that the submitted report “is 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.
“It should be noted that at this interim stage, a total of 27 initial findings and 8 immediate safety recommendations were made for the convening authority as well as other aviation related agencies for immediate implementation.
“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 analysis,” it stated.