NAF plane crashes in Uyo

Posted by admin Akwa Ibom, Armed Forces, Headlines, State News Saturday, October 29th, 2011

A Nigerian Air Force (NAF) plane has crashed in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.
The L-39 trainer jet was on a routine training exercise from the 303 Training School in Kano when it crashed about 50 metres away from Uyo airport.
However, no life was lost in the incident, which happened at 7:15 p.m. on Friday. But the pilot and co-pilot, who were rescued from the scene of accident, were rushed to hospital where they have been under observation by medical personnel.
Both pilots are said to be in stable condition.

A statement from Director of Public Relations and Information (DOPRI), Air Commodore Yusuf Anas, said the Chief of Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshall Mohamed Dikko Umar, has visited the injured pilots in hospital, while NAF safety investigators have moved to the scene to assess the immediate cause of accident.
Sunday Sun gathered that the L-39 was in Uyo for the ongoing NAF Games in Akwa Ibom State.
Meanwhile, Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has given a clean bill to Akwa Ibom International Airport (AKIA) to continue its commercial operations despite the crash on Friday evening.

Managing Director of Akwa Ibom International Airport, Capt. Jari Williams, who conveyed the NCAA’s clearance in a statement, said the approval was due to the fact that the crashed aircraft did not cause any damage to the airport facilities.
“NCAA having confirmed that the incident was offsite the airport facilities, has given clearance for continuous flight operations in and out of the airport.”
Sunday Sun learnt that the crashed aircraft, which was hurriedly taken away “in a trailer from the runway to a hidden location” within the airport, was one of the seven jets that left Margaret Ekpo International Airport, Calabar, to Uyo.
The two airports were selected as the operation zone for the 2011 Staff Continuity Training Exercise & Sports Week of the Nigeria Air Force. The exercise began at the airport on Tuesday, October 25, 2011.

But Williams explained that on Friday “seven aircraft departed Calabar airport en-route Akwa Ibom International Airport out of which six landed safely. Unfortunately, at 19:09 hour (7.09 p.m.) one of the aircraft with two pilots on board crash landed 1,100 metres from Runway 21. The airport’s aerodrome rescue team responded promptly to the incident. The two pilots are hail and hearty and currently under observation as a matter of procedure.
Six of the jets and two helicopters were seen parked at the airport hanger.

-Sunwp_posts