The Accident Investigation Bureau, AIB, and the Nigeria Police Force are in a war of words over the alleged accident involving an helicopter belonging to the NPF at the Bauchi Airport.
The accident which occurred on the 26th January, 2022, was said to have been reported to the Accident Investigation Bureau, Nigeria by Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA).
According to the AIB in a statement, the Bell 429 helicopter with Registration Marks 5N-MDA owned and operated by Nigerian Police Force (NPF) departed Abuja at 16:54 UTC for Bauchi with Six persons on board maintaining 5,500ft and the accident occurred around 7:30pm (Local Time) at Bauchi Airport.
“There were some injuries but no fatality”.
It adds, “The investigating agency, AIB-N needs and hereby solicits for your assistance. We want the public to know that we would be amenable to receiving any video clips, evidences, or information any member of the public may have of the accident that can assist us with this investigation”.
The Bureau says, it will appreciate that the general public and press respect the privacy of the people involved and NOT assume the cause of the accident until formal report is released.
In a swift reaction to the statement, the Public Relations Officer, NPF, CP Frank Mba says, the helicopter, was involved in a controlled safe landing and none of the occupants sustained any injury whatsoever as l six (6) on board including the pilot and co-pilot are in good condition.
“Similarly, the aircraft, which was flown by one of the best Police Pilots, was professionally safe-landed with minor damage on the rear rotor as a result of obstacle at the landing spot. The incident occurred around 7:30PM (local time)”.
He further went on to say that, even the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Usman Alkali Baba has commended the Police Air-Wing for their professionalism in safe-landing the aircraft and averting any serious air-mishap.
Stressing that, “the Nigeria Police Air-wing – with a fleet of one fixed-wing aircraft, a citation jet and thirteen (13) helicopters – has got a strong history of air safety since its establishment in the year 1972”.
