The Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) has called on aviation industry stakeholders and professionals to refrain from speculating and making comments about the recent Jabiru J430 aircraft incident in the Oba Akran area of Lagos on Tuesday, August 2, 2023.
In an interview with aviation journalists in Lagos, Mr. Tunji Oketunbi of the NSIB emphasised the importance of avoiding categorical statements and comments on the cause of a serious incident or accident until investigators have made their findings public.
He expressed concern over statements attributed to some professionals in the sector regarding the accident, which involved two pilots. Oketunbi stressed that professionals should be familiar with the rules governing accident reports and the standards set by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO).
Oketunbi highlighted that ICAO Annex 13 outlines the procedures for conducting an accident investigation. It specifies that a preliminary report should be released within 30 days of the incident, followed by a final report within 12 months after the investigation’s completion.
He assured that the NSIB would conduct a thorough investigation into the accident and provide actionable recommendations to prevent similar incidents in the future.
Oketunbi cautioned that premature speculations could tarnish the country’s reputation internationally and urged commentators to await the NSIB’s official investigation results before expressing personal opinions.
He stated, “We should refrain from making assumptions about the immediate or remote cause of the accident. It doesn’t matter who owns the aircraft involved in the crash. As professionals in the aviation industry, we must avoid making uninformed comments. Aviation is a highly regulated sector, and we adhere to the standards and recommended practices of ICAO, which represent the minimum requirements.
“Everyone should wait for NSIB to carry out its investigation, release preliminary and final reports and put measures in place to prevent future occurrences. We urge people to allow us to fulfil our responsibilities. Our investigation and reporting will be conducted in a professional manner, free from emotional influence or speculation,” Oketunbi added.
He also called on the media to ensure accuracy in their reports about the crash.
It should be noted that a Jabiru J430 light single-engine aircraft, registered as 5N CCQ, crashed in the afternoon near Oba Akran while en route to Ibadan for a test flight.
