NAF receives AIB interim report on Kaduna crash involving Attahiru, late army chief

The Accident Investigation Bureau (AIB) has submitted an interim report of the air crash that resulted in the death of Ibrahim Attahiru, former chief of army staff, and 10 other military officers.

The interim report was submitted by Akin Olateru, AIB chief executive officer, to Oladayo Amao, chief of air staff, on Wednesday.

On May 21, 2021, an aircraft conveying the 11 officers crashed near the Kaduna international airport.

Hours after the incident, the chief of air staff had constituted a committee to investigate the circumstances that led to the crash, which involved a NAF King-350 aircraft.

According to the AIB, 27 findings were listed in the report, while eight safety recommendations were also made.

“After about three months of painstaking joint investigation, the Commissioner and Chief Executive Officer of AIB, Engr Akin Olateru FNSE, today 15 September 2021 submitted an interim report on the sad incident to the Chief of Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Amao, at his office at NAF Headquarters, Abuja,” a statement by Edward Gabkwet, NAF spokesman, reads.

“The submitted report is organised 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.”

Speaking during the presentation of the report, the air chief commended the collaboration between NAF and the AIB, adding that it would help to promote transparency.

In his remarks, Olateru said copies of the report will also be submitted to the minister of aviation and the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), as part of efforts to ensure that the recommendations are implemented.