A team of aviation investigators on Sunday arrived in Kwara State for an on-the-spot assessment and to determine the cause of the Diamond training aircraft operated by the Aviation Training School that crash-landed last Friday.

Before the arrival of the investigators, the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) conducted an on-site investigation.

The Director of Public Affairs and Family Assistance of NSIB, Bimbo Oladeji, announced that an investigation has been launched to determine the cause of the crash that occurred at 17:28 during a simulated instrument approach on Runway 05 at the General Tunde Idiagbon International Airport in Ilorin.

The accident involved two occupants, though both survived and are receiving medical care.

According to information, as at the time of this report, one of them has undergone an MRI scan, while both are reported to be conscious and in stable condition.

A statement by Oladeji said the NSIB Director General, Captain Alex Badeh, visited the crash site and that “crucial flight data had already been recovered and was being processed.”

“Our investigators are on the ground and have begun work in earnest. The damaged aircraft is positioned on the left side of the runway, and recovery operations are nearly complete.

“Four of our specialists will remain at the site to complete critical measurements before returning to Abuja,” the statement quoted Badeh as saying.

Badeh said that the NSIB has recovered the aircraft’s data card, now undergoing analysis at the Bureau’s transport safety laboratory, adding that the results will contribute to the preliminary report, expected within 30 days.

“Our job is to determine what happened, to whom it happened, how it happened, and most importantly, how to prevent it from happening again,” he added.

Providing an update on the crew involved in the crash, Badeh confirmed both individuals survived and are receiving medical treatment.

He added, “They are conscious, coherent, and in stable condition. One has undergone an MRI scan, and both are receiving appropriate medical care.”

While the investigation continues, the NSIB assured the public that Nigerian airspace remains secure, and further updates will be made available as the investigation progresses.

The Guardian online newspaper reported on Saturday that two occupants of a Diamond training aircraft operated by the Aviation Training School, Ilorin, on Friday crash-landed, injuring two people.
According to NSIB, the injured have, since the accident, been hospitalised, with the Bureau saying that it has commenced an investigation into the accident.

Mrs. Oladeji, in a statement Friday night, said the incident occurred during a simulated instrument approach on Runway 05 at Ilorin International Airport.

According to her, the aircraft veered off the runway and came to a stop on the grass verge.
The statement read, “Two occupants were on board. Both sustained serious injuries and were swiftly evacuated to a medical facility, coordinated by the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA).”