Power Minister’s Air Craft Accident: NSIB Reveals Investigation Reports

Barely one month after the plane crash incident involving Flints Aero Services Limited, the aircraft transporting Minister of Power Adebayo Adelabu from Abuja to Ibadan, the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau has revealed initial findings.

Recall that OSUN DEFENDER reported that the plane carrying Adelabu and nine others, crash-landed near Ibadan on November 3.

In a recent statement by Mr Tunji Oketunbi, the Head of Public Affairs, NSIB declared that the aircraft’s owners, Flints Aero Service, were implicated in the incident.

According to the bureau, the airline responsible for the minister’s journey from Abuja to Ibadan Airport had been issued a Permit for Non-Commercial Flight, explicitly prohibiting the use of the aircraft for transporting passengers, cargo, or mail for compensation. However, the flight violated this permit regulation.

The report revealed that the aircraft accommodated ten individuals, including two cockpit crew members and one cabin crew, with a fuel endurance of three hours.

Furthermore, the investigation exposed that the crew lacked adequate experience in nighttime flight operations, and the airline faced accusations of breaching its Air Operator Certificate issued by the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority.

The statement read, “The flight departed Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, for Ibadan Airport, Oyo state, as a charter flight on an Instrument Flight Rules flight plan. On board were ten persons, including two cockpit crew and one cabin crew, with fuel endurance of three hours.

“Post-incident inspection of the aircraft confirmed substantial damage to the fuselage, the landing gear, and flaps.

“The passengers disembarked without any injury, while the Cockpit Voice Recorder and Flight Data Recorder were recovered in good condition, and recordings were intact after the occurrence.

“Flints Aero Services Limited was issued with a Permit for Non-Commercial Flight. The PNCF issued to Flint Aero Services Limited stipulates that the aircraft shall not be used to carriage passenger(s), cargo, or mail for hire or reward.”