Governor Adeleke had alleged sabotage in the incident which happened last week.
But in a Sunday statement, the NCAA Director General Capt Musa Nuhu expressed concern over the incident, assuring that a probe into the matter is underway.
“Although the operator of the aircraft “submitted the report through the new web-based National Aviation Safety Reporting System, SMS Pro, deployed by NCAA in collaboration with Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) in compliance with the provisions of ICAO mandated State Safety Programme and the Civil Aviation Act 2022,” the Sunday statement said, “a full-blown investigation of the incident has since commenced”.
While expressing relief that the incident ended without any harm, the Honourable Minister assured that the outcome of NCAA’s investigation and recommendations will be implemented in line with Nig. CARS and global best practices,” the statement added.
“NCAA assures the traveling public that it will double its efforts in collaboration with NSIB to maintain and improve upon the high safety aviation standards set in the country over the past decade.”
Osun Govt Alleges Sabotage Over Averted Plane Crash Involving Adeleke
A statement from Governor Adeleke’s spokesman Olawale Rasheed claimed that the engine of the aircraft carrying his principal and some of the Osun leader’s aides was tampered with.
“Contrary to the claim by the hanger owner that birds’ nests caused the incident, birds’ nests are made with straws not bidding wires as in this case,” he said Sunday.
“According to him, the near-fatal incident was averted shortly after boarding and less than two minutes after the commencement of taxing on the tarmac.”
“An early warning noise from the engines immediately prompted the pilots to direct the evacuation of the passengers. Everything happened within five minutes. Early reports from the internal investigation indicated sabotage. But the authorities, locally and internationally, are still investigating the incident,” the spokesman noted.
But the spokesman reassured that Governor Adeleke and his aides are safe and there was no injury or outward explosion on the plane.
“The Governor expressed his deep appreciation to well-wishers and supporters who have been calling since the report of the incident. Mr. Governor is hale and hearty,” he added.
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