The Republic of Cameroon has sought the support of the Accident Investigative Bureau, Nigeria (AIB-N) to help investigate the circumstances around an accident involving Havilland DHC 400 Twinotter aircraft which led to the death of 11 people on board.
The director, Civil Aviation of the Ministry of Transportation, Cameroon, Mrs. Essimi Dine who led her country’s delegation to the AIB-N headquarters in Abuja said the support of AIB was necessary, due to its advanced infrastructure for accident investigation.
The accident which occurred on May 11, 2022, in Cameroon, involved two Nigerian pilots, a Cameroonian operator, among others.
She said the AIB-N would help to download and analyse information from the recorder of the aircraft.
The Republic of Cameroon would further collaborate with AIB-N on capacity-building in accident investigation and how to collaborate.
“We have come to see how [the] AIB is doing things and what they can do in terms of equipment and infrastructure they have.
“Thanking you, Mr. Commissioner; thank you, everybody. Thank you also for your warm welcome here in Nigeria. We appreciate the support of the AIB. We assure you that the cause of the accident will be resolved after our work here.
“We will further request other areas of collaboration. We appreciate the support of AIB,” she said.
Earlier, the commissioner, AIB-N, Mr. Akin Olateru, said the bureau was part of the investigation of the accident, as Nigerians were on board.
“But Cameroon has decided to seek assistance in terms of the investigation to help with the download of the FPR and CBR, analysis of information and animation of how it happened.
“As you are aware, we have one of the best accident investigative laboratories in the world. We have the capability of getting information from the damaged recorder that the aircraft came with.
“The aircraft came with a highly ‘burnt’ recorder. We will be able to retrieve information from it,” he said.
Olateru said the AIB-N had previously provided assistance to the Niger Republic, Gambia and Sierra Leone.
According to him, AIB-N just got approval from the Ministry of Justice to sign an MoU with Sierra Leone, to help them set up an Independent Accident Investigation Centre.
