Keyamo Summons Aviation Heads Over Safety Concerns

Aviation Minister, Festus Keyamo, has urgently convened a meeting with top officials from regulatory bodies in the Nigerian aviation sector to tackle growing worries about safety within the industry. Keyamo outlined the meeting’s focus, highlighting the need for a thorough examination of recent events that have stirred public unease regarding aviation safety. Expressing a proactive stance, the minister emphasized the necessity of implementing strict measures to prevent similar incidents from happening in the future. In a statement shared on X, he stated, “In response to the safety apprehensions raised by the public in the aviation sector, I’ve called upon the heads of regulatory agencies to convene later today. Our aim is to scrutinize the incidents causing these concerns, ensuring preventive actions and applying necessary penalties for prior mishaps.” This initiative comes in the wake of multiple unsettling occurrences in the aviation industry over the past few weeks.

We’re Investigating Crash Land Of Plane Carrying Minister -NSIB

The Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) has said it is investigating the crash-landing of the plane involving the Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, and several of his companions in Ibadan, the principal city of Oyo State on Friday.  The bureau, operating under the jurisdiction of the Federal Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development, bears the responsibility of investigating any civil aircraft accident or significant event that arises during air travel within or over Nigeria. An aircraft transporting the Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, and a contingent of his associates, experienced a crash landing in close proximity to the Samuel Ladoke Akintola Airport in Ibadan, which serves as the capital of Oyo State.  The aircraft in question was an HS 125, a private jet operated by Flint Aero, and the incident unfolded on a Friday evening. It has been reported that the aircraft took off from Abuja Airport with its destination being Ibadan. The departure occurred around 6:41 pm, and the aircraft encountered the crash-landing situation as it attempted to land at approximately 7:21 pm, not far from the Ibadan airport’s runway. Information from a reliable source indicates that the pilot had been granted permission to land prior to the occurrence, and fortunately, all individuals on board, including the crew members, were safely evacuated. Unfortunately, the aircraft suffered extensive damage. In reaction to this incident, the NSIB’s spokesperson, Tunji Oketunmbi, stated that the bureau had been apprised of the situation.  He confirmed that NSIB’s investigators were present on-site in Ibadan to determine both the immediate and the underlying causes of the incident.

Safety Violation: HEDA Petitions Police, Wants Probe, Sanction Of Max Air

The Human and Environmental Development Agenda (HEDA Resource Centre) has petitioned the Nigeria Police Force against Max Air, citing grave concerns over the endangerment of lives due to reported safety violations. This move comes in the wake of Max Air’s purported presentation of altered records to the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) and its alleged engagement of unauthorized engineers in aircraft servicing. Max Air was suspended after one of its aircraft crash-landed at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja on May 7, 2023. The incident imperiled the lives of more than 143 passengers on board In a petition signed by HEDA’s Chairman, Olanrewaju Suraju, addressed to the Inspector General of Police, Dr. Kayode Egbetokun, the CSO detailed the findings of the NCAA audit, which was conducted between July 17, 2023, and July 20, 2023. The audit exposed a litany of safety deficiencies within Max Air’s operations, ultimately resulting in a second suspension. “HEDA therefore unequivocally calls for a thorough and exhaustive investigation into these allegations, as well as appropriate legal actions against the management of Max Air Ltd,” it said, in the petition. The comprehensive 11-page audit report and accompanying correspondences revealed a staggering 27 critical safety issues observed within the airline’s fleet under scrutiny. “These issues encompassed a wide range of concerns, including but not limited to: Alleged submission of altered records to the NCAA, coupled with the failure to replace life-limited components in accordance with regulations, and absence of substantial evidence to defend the airworthiness of recently installed landing gears on one of Max Air’s aircraft. “Other breaches are: documentation of incorrect maintenance practices, notably following a bird strike incident; the engagement of unauthorized engineers in performing maintenance tasks; neglect of mandatory duplicate inspections following pivotal tasks; ineffective management of Airworthiness Directives for the entire fleet; shortcomings in the qualifications of Non-Destructive Testing (NDT) personnel; and non-compliance with established procedures for ensuring the efficacy of the Aircraft Maintenance Program. “These serious findings highlight a pattern of disregard for safety regulations and standards by Max Air, putting the lives of air travelers at risk. HEDA strongly urged the Nigeria Police to conduct an exhaustive investigation into the contents of the NCAA audit report and to take action.