The Accident Investigation Bureau Nigeria (AIB-N) has released three final accident reports involving Max Air, Azman Air and Nigeria Police aircraft which happened between October 3, 2018 and September 9, 2019.
Speaking during a press conference at the bureau’s headquarters in Abuja today (May 25, 2022), the AIB-N commissioner, Engr. Akin Olateru said the report – organised into three sections; the information obtained in the course of the investigation, the analysis of data collected given the board’s terms of reference and the conclusion which covers the initial findings and immediate recommendations – fulfils the bureau’s mandate of investigating aircraft accident to enhance safety through safety recommendation issued and assuring safe skies in Nigeria.
He said the agency released 20 safety recommendations addressed to the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), the affected airlines, the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), an aircraft manufacturer, the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), among others.
Olateru revealed that the causes of the accidents were an un-stabilised approach with a no-go-around decision, the inability of the aircraft to get airborne after attaining the rotation speed during take-off roll even with aft elevator pressure, failure to recognise the abnormal engine conditions (surge) during cruise phase and, hence, not making appropriate decisions. This might have been connected to the insufficient technical knowledge and loss of situational awareness.
“The newly released report makes a total of 75 aircraft accident reports released by the bureau since its establishment in 2007 and a total of 56 reports released by the current administration from 2017 till date. This year alone, seven reports have been released.
“The bureau has also released a total of 252 Safety recommendations since inception, with 171 of the recommendation released by this administration.
“The final report on the serious incident involving a Boeing 747-400 aircraft with nationality and registration marks 5N-DBK operated by Max Air Limited, which occurred at the Minna Airport, Nigeria on 7th September, 2019;
“The final report on the serious incident involving Cessna Citation 560 XLS aircraft with nationality and registration marks 5N-HAR operated by the Nigerian Police Airwing which occurred at Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa Airport, Bauchi, Nigeria on 3rd October 2018 and the final report on the serious incident involving a Boeing 737-500 aircraft with nationality and registration marks 5N-AIS operated by Azman Air Service Limited which occurred at Port Harcourt, Nigeria on 3rd January 2019.”
Olateru appreciated the Minister of Aviation, Sen. Hadi Sirika for his unrelenting support for the bureau’s activities and further appreciated the AIB team for its dedication, diligence and hard work that allows the bureau to fulfil its mandate always.
Olateru noted that the details of the reports, which include the factual information, findings, analysis, conclusions and safety recommendations on the investigations are available for download on the bureau’s website (www.aib.gov.ng).
