NAF Pilot May Have Averted Bigger Disaster Before Igbokoda Crash — Aiyedatiwa
Ondo State Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa has said the pilot of the Nigerian Air Force aircraft that crashed in Igbokoda may have prevented a more devastating incident by steering the plane away from the community before it plunged into a swamp.
The ATR-42 aircraft, with registration number NAF 931, crashed on Monday while conducting a routine flight from Benin City to Lagos. All 25 people on board, comprising five crew members and 20 passengers, died in the crash.
Aiyedatiwa made the disclosure on Wednesday when he visited the crash site, where recovery operations were ongoing.
According to the governor, residents who witnessed the incident told him that the aircraft appeared to be heading towards the community before it changed direction and eventually crashed in the swamp.
“From what the people told us, the aircraft was almost coming into the community, but the pilot managed to manoeuvre it away before it crashed about 200 metres from the community and went straight into the swampy area,” Aiyedatiwa said.
He added that residents had heard an unusual sound from the aircraft shortly before it went down, which they believed could have indicated an engine problem.
“Its only the pilot that could have been able to tell the efforts put in place to be able to manoeuvre. Because people from the area could see the plane coming down, with a sound like a bad engine, almost landing within the community.”
The recovery operation had entered its second day as rescuers battled the difficult terrain surrounding the crash site.
Aiyedatiwa described the scene as a “very gory sight”, noting that fragments of the aircraft and personal belongings belonging to NAF personnel had been recovered and kept for investigation.
However, the main section of the aircraft was yet to be found.
“The main body of the aircraft has not been sighted. It is believed to be submerged in the swamp,” he said.
The governor said the thick mangroves, muddy terrain and murky water were making the search particularly difficult. He added that the cockpit and black boxes had also not been located.
To improve access to the crash site, Aiyedatiwa said he directed the state Ministry of Works to deploy two amphibious machines, known as swamp buggies.
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The machines are being used to navigate the waterways, create access for larger boats and excavate parts of the swamp in the search for the submerged aircraft.
Navy personnel, divers and local residents have also been involved in efforts to search the deeper sections of the swamp.
Explaining the depth of the terrain, the governor said, “From construction experience and analysis of this area, for you to get to refusal level when you’re piling, it’ll get to about 30 metres deep,” highlighting the challenges facing the recovery teams.
Aiyedatiwa also expressed concern about the environmental impact of the crash, saying aviation fuel was still leaking into the water around the recovery area.