NEMA: Residents rescued survivors of Lagos plane crash before responders arrived scene

The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) says residents rescued survivors of the aircraft that crashed in Lagos before emergency responders arrived at the scene.

TheCable had earlier reported that a jet crashed along the Oba Akran avenue in Ikeja, on Tuesday afternoon.

According to the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB), there were only two persons onboard the crashed aircraft.

NSIB, formerly the Accident Investigation Bureau (AIB), is an agency of the federal government charged with the responsibility of investigating aircraft accidents in Nigeria.

In a statement, Tunji Oketunbi, NSIB spokesperson, disclosed that the aircraft was on a test flight within Lagos with two passengers onboard before the accident.

Oketunbi identified the aircraft as a “Jabiru J430, a light single aeroplane with nationality and registration marks 5N-CCQ operated by Air First Hospitality & Tours”.

Meanwhile, speaking with journalists on the incident, Ibrahim Farinloye, acting coordinator of NEMA south-west zone, disclosed that only the pilot of the jet sustained serious injury.

“By the time, we got here the community has done the job for us and that is why we always say that once communities are empowered about what to do when an incident happens, things will be better in areas of saving lives,” he said.

“The community brought out fire extinguishers and all other things. This area has a lot of dangerous stuff like gas and petrol stations.

“The community was able to rescue the two members on board. No casualty. The victims have been taken away for medical care. Only the pilot sustained serious injury.”