July 09, (THEWILL) – The Accident Investigation Bureau (AIB) has said it would release the preliminary report on the cause of the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) plane crash involving late Gen. Ibrahim Attahiru, the Chief of Army Staff, and 10 others at the Kaduna Airport next week.
The bureau, however, said that it was not within its purview to make its findings public, saying that NAF would decide on what to do with the report.
Engr. Akin Olateru, the Commissioner, AIB, who disclosed this in a statement issued on Friday, said the agency had already analysed the aircraft’s Flight Data Recorder (FDR) and the Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR).
He said: ”The decision to make it public or not is with the Nigerian Air Force (NAF). We don’t have that mandate. Our mandate only covers zero accident.
“Unfortunately, I can’t speak for the military, we don’t have mandate to report outcome of accident or incidence relating to NAF aircraft. Our mandate is limited to civil aviation. Military aviation is different from civil aviation.
”We are privileged to be called upon, which to me, will help the civil aspect of the incident because the accident happened at a civil airport.”
The late Chief of Staff and 10 others involved in the crash were on their way to Kaduna to attend the Passing-Out Parade of Army recruits, which was scheduled for the following day, when the accident involving a Beechraft aircraft occurred within the airport vicinity.
Anthony Awunor, is a business correspondent who holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Linguistics (UNILAG). He is also an alumnus of the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology (NCAT), Zaria Kaduna State. He lives in Lagos.
