Ibadan air mishap: FG suspends carrier, commences investigation

By Emmanuel Obisue

Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau, NSIB, has commenced investigation into a serious incident involving a Challenger 601-3R aircraft with Nationality and Registration Marks N580KR operated by Mattini Air which occurred on January 26.

The aircraft which was with 12 passengers and three crew members onboard, was en-route Ibadan from Abuja.

On its final approach to landing Runway 22 at tge Ibadan Airport, it overshoot the runway, with no fatality, as all passengers and crew were safely evacuated.

“The NSIB has deployed a Go Team to investigate the incident. As the investigating agency, NSIB needs and hereby solicits for your assistance. We want the public to know that we would be amenable to receiving any video clip, relevant evidence, or information any members of the public may have of the serious incident; that can assist us with this investigation.

“The Bureau will appreciate that the general public and press respect the privacy of the people involved and NOT assume the cause of the serious incident until formal report is released.

“The Bureau will release the preliminary report as soon as possible,” Bimbo Oladeji, Director Public Affairs and Consumer Protection of the NSIB said in a statement issued over the weekend.

Similarly, the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA said it has commenced a safety and economic audit of all private jet operations in Nigeria.

It has also suspended the private Airline involved in the runway excursion that took place at Ibadan Airport on Friday.

In its statement, the NCAA noted that while the NSIB is conducting the safety investigation, the NCAA has initiated an economic inquiry into the operation of the aircraft in line with the terms and conditions of the PNCF as detailed in its Annexure.

The NCAA explained that the suspension will subsist until it is ascertained that the conditions of the PNCF have been adhered to.