The Minister of Aviation, Stella Oduah, Thursday, assured Nigerians and visitors that the country’s airspace is safe and secure.
The minister’s statement comes on the heels of Thursday’s plane crash in Lagos in which 13 people were confirmed dead.
In a statement signed by Ms. Oduah, she assured Nigerians that investigations are ongoing to establish the cause of the crash of the propeller aircraft that was conveying the corpse of late former governor of Ondo State, Olusegun Agagu, to Ondo.
“While it is too early to determine the cause of the accident, we urge the public to be patient while the investigation progresses. I assure the public that the investigation will be thorough and that our airspace remains safe and secure.” Ms. Oduah said
Ms. Oduah said the Embraer 120 aircraft carrying 20 persons including the crew members departed Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos at 9.32 a.m. on Thursday and crashed shortly after takeoff.
“This morning at 0932 hours, Local Time, an Embraer 120 aircraft, with registration number 5N-BIT operated by Associated Airlines on a private charter flight from Lagos to Akure, crashed shortly after take-off from the Domestic Wing of the Murtala Mohammed International Airport. At departure, the crew of the chartered operation reported 20 persons on board, including crew,” she said.
She also stated that the Control Tower immediately activated the Crash Alarm of the airport as the first step of the Emergency Response Procedure enabling the First Responders to immediately proceed to the crash site.
She also noted that the Federal Airports Authorities of Nigeria Fire Service Department, ambulances and other relevant emergency apparatus successfully extinguished the fire within 2 minutes despite the surging crowd.
Ms. Oduah said six people were rescued alive while 14 people died. She said the six survivors were promptly transported to the hospital and are receiving appropriate medical care. The minister’s spokesman later told reporters that 13 people died.
“While Rescue Coordination and Trauma Centers have been set up at the Annex of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority to provide necessary information and support, the Federal Ministry of Aviation deeply commiserates with the families of the victims. Our thoughts and prayers are with them at this difficult time,” she said.
She also said that aviation authorities were contacting families of the victims of the unfortunate incident, and upon completion, will make information about the identities of the victims’ public.
Ms. Oduah also said that the Black Box of the aircraft has been located and is in the custody of the Accident Investigation and Prevention Bureau who, with the cooperation of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority and other relevant agencies, have commenced full investigation into the cause of the accident.
source: nigerianeye
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