AIB to release preliminary report on NAF crash that claimed Attahiru’s life

Akin Olateru, the Commissioner of Accident Investigation Bureau (AIB), has said the preliminary report on the recent Nigerian Air Force (NAF) aircraft crash in Kaduna would be ready next week.

Olateru stated this in Abuja, during the release of eight accident reports which covered 2010 and 2019.

In May this year, a Beechcraft 350, belonging to the Nigerian Air Force (NAF), crashed around the Kaduna International Airport on May 21.

It claimed the lives of Gen. Ibrahim Attahiru, Chief of Army Staff, and 10 other military personnel perished in the crashed helicopter.

Olateru, who said AIB had analysed the aircraft’s flight data recorder (FDR) and the cockpit voice recorder (CVR), maintained that only the military has the authority to disclose the content of the preliminary report.

“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.

“But 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.

“So there are aspects of it we need to look at, the final response of the fire engine, the prevailing weather, what actually happened. What part the ATC play? These are all civil.

“We cannot determine whether Nigerians will want the preliminary report or all the findings to be published. That is beyond our mandate, it is only Nigerian Air Force that can do that“ he said.

According to him, despite the paralyzing effects of COVID-19, the bureau had remained committed to its mandate by working all through the pandemic to clear outstanding reports.