We’re working with aviation authorities to probe flight incident, says Flybird Aircraft

Flybird Aircraft Management Services Limited says it is working closely with aviation authorities to determine the cause of flight incident involving its Hawker 900XP aircraft.

In a statement on Monday, the company confirmed that the affected aircraft, registered as 5N-KAL, encountered a technical issue while flying from Nnamdi Azikiwe Airport, Abuja, to Kotoka Airport, Accra, Ghana.

According to the statement, the aircraft returned safely to Abuja after following standard safety protocols as a precautionary measure.

“We want to inform the public that all persons on board including three crew members and a passenger are safe and unharmed,” Flybird Aircraft said.

“We are currently working in close collaboration with relevant aviation authorities to conduct a thorough investigation and ascertain the root cause of the incident.

“As a responsible and responsive organisation, the safety and wellbeing of our passengers and crew remain our top priority.

“As a Nigerian company operating globally, we are proud of the progress we have made.”

The company also praised its crew members for successfully handling the situation and ensuring the safe return of the aircraft.

“As a licensed Air Operator by the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Flybird has earned a stellar reputation for its unwavering dedication to excellence,” the company said.

“As we cooperate with relevant authorities to unravel the root cause of this incident, we remain committed to practicing and advocating for safety within the aviation industry.”

On Sunday, the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) said it has commenced an investigation into an incident involving an Accra-bound Fly Bird HS 125 aircraft that led to the loss of two engines mid-air.

NSIB said the aircraft experienced technical difficulties during its flight on December 6.

The bureau said preliminary information showed that the aircraft, with four persons on board; three crew members and one passenger, was climbing through flight level 240 en route to flight level 280 when the crew reported an engine number two indication issue.