Ibadan Accident: Flints Aero crew lacks skills - Report

The Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau has released a preliminary report indicting Flints Aero Services Ltd, the airline which flew the Minister for Power, Mr. Adebayo Adelabu, from Abuja to Ibadan Airport, and crashed landed in November.

The report revealed that the crew lacked sufficient experience in night-time flight operations, and the airline faceed allegations of violating its Air Operator Certificate issued by the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority.

The air crash involving Adelabu and nine others occurred on November 3 at Ibadan Airport while attempting to land.

The NSIB report disclosed that the airline, entrusted with the minister’s flight from Abuja to Ibadan Airport, was issued a Permit for Non-Commercial Flight, which strictly prohibited the use of the aircraft for the carriage of passengers, cargo, or mail for hire or reward.

The incident occurred as the Flint flight departed Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, bound for Ibadan Airport, Oyo state, on a charter flight operating under an Instrument Flight Rules flight plan.

According to the report, the aircraft carried a total of 10 persons, including two cockpit crew and one cabin crew, with a fuel endurance of three hours.

A statement by the Head of Public Affairs, NSIB, Mr Tunji Oketunbi, said that preliminary investigation by the bureau showed that the permit issued the airline stipulated that the aircraft would not be used for carriage of passenger(s), cargo or mail for hire or reward, but regretted that the airline violated the permit.

It said: “The flight departed Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja for Ibadan Airport, Oyo state, as a charter flight on an Instrument Flight Rules flight plan. On board were 10 persons, including two cockpit crew and one cabin crew, with fuel endurance of three hours.

“Post-incident inspection of the aircraft confirmed substantial damage to the fuselage, the landing gear and flaps. The passengers disembarked without any injury while the Cockpit Voice Recorder and Flight Data Recorder were recovered in good condition and recordings were intact after the occurrence.

“Flints Aero Services Limited was issued with a Permit for Non-Commercial Flight. The PNCF issued to Flint Aero Services Limited stipulates that the aircraft shall not be used for carriage of passenger(s), cargo or mail for hire or reward.”

The report disclosed that the flight crew, although licensed and qualified, had limited night flying experience, with the captain having only 49 night flying hours.

It disclosed that the aircraft touched down on the grass verge, 220m from the threshold of runway 22, veering right and crossing the runway shoulder, entering the grass verge without evidence of braking on the runway.

NSIB issued safety recommendations, urging NAMA to strictly observe airport operational hours, NCAA to ensure Flints Aero Services Limited operates within approved limits, and Flints Aero to ensure flight crew has sufficient night-time flight experience. FAAN was advised to clear the overgrown grass verge.

NSIB also released a report on the Bombardier CRJ900 aircraft (registration number: 5N-BXR) owned by FLYFORVALUE Aviation Limited, which experienced an incident at Port Harcourt International Airport on November 14, 2023.

The report details a scheduled flight from Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos to Port Harcourt Intl. Airport, Rivers State on an Instrument Flight Rules flight plan, with 68 persons on board, including five crew members.

The report noted that due to unfavourable conditions, the decision was made to wait on the ground in Lagos with passengers until conditions improved.

“The flight, FVJ0226, departed Lagos at 14:15 h, with the pilot flying and the copilot as the pilot monitoring. The crew reported uneventful phases of take-off, climb, cruise, descent, and approach.

“During the approach, approximately six NM to the station, the aircraft encountered light rain that dissipated before reaching the final approach fix.

Wipers were activated, and the crew deemed the weather non-threatening to safe operation, completing the Approach and Descent checklists,” the report stated.

However, the aviation investigative body recommended that the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency should ensure that it strictly observes the airport operational hours as published in the relevant Aeronautical Information Publication and not permit extensions beyond the airport’s limitations.