The Chief of Air Staff, AVM Oladayo Amao on Sunday instituted an investigative panel to determine the remote and immediate causes of the crash of a Beechcraft KingAir B350i (NAF201), which occurred while the aircraft was on its way back to Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport Abuja, after reporting engine failure enroute Minna, Niger State.
President Muhammadu Buhari in reacting to the incident, had also assured that investigations would be carried out to ascertain the cause (s) of the accident.
As Nigerians await the findings of this investigative panel, which membership and timeline for completion of investigation and presentation of report is unknown, it is probably a good time to ask what became of reports of previous investigations or if there were any reports at all.
21st Century Chronicle reports that in the last 10 years, between 2011 and 2021, at least 12 aircraft belonging to the Nigerian Airforce have crashed in different parts of the country.
In March 2011, an Air Force fighter jet, Chinese-made F7 crashed while taking off from a flight school near Kano, killing the pilot.
In May 2013, an Alpha Jet crashed near Niamey, Niger Republic, killing two crew members
In September 2014, an Alpha Jet with serial number NAF-466, went missing in the northeast, after departing Yola, Adamawa State, with two pilots on board.
In January 2015, a CASC Rainbow CH-3 UCAV crashed near Dumge village in the Mafa District of Borno State.
In October 2015, an Air Force fighter jet returning from a mission to its base in Yola, Adamawa State, crashed around Hong, killing its pilot.
In August 2017, an Air Beetle trainer aircraft crashed in Kaduna, killing the pilot instructor.
In July 2017, Air Force Agusta 109 Light Utility Helicopter crashed in Borno River with no casualties.
In September 2018, two F-7 aircraft collided during flight maneuver practice for Nigeria’s 58th independence anniversary celebration and crashed in Katampe area of Abuja, killing one of the pilots.
In January 2019, a Mi-35M attack helicopter crashed in Damasak, Borno State, while providing close-air support for troops of the 145 Battalion combating Boko Haram insurgents. Five officers died in the crash.
In June 2019, a combat helicopter crashed in Katsina while returning from an anti-armed banditry mission in the North West. There was no loss of life as the officers on board were able to exit the aircraft before it went up in flames.
In November 2019, a training helicopter crashed at the NAF Base in Enugu after returning from a routine training exercise. No crew member or ground personnel was injured.
A common denominator in all the crashes is a promise of investigation by the Airforce authorities.
None of the reports has been made public in the last 10 years.
