By John Ugo
The Nigeria Police Force has faulted the Accident Investigation Bureau over the reported crash of the Nigeria Police Helicopter, Bell 429 5NMDA, on Thursday at the Airport in Bauchi state.
The force headquarters stated that the ‘copter was involved in controlled safe landing and not a crash as reported in the media.
This is as the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Usman Alkali Baba, commended the Police Air-Wing for their professionalism in safe-landing the aircraft and averting any serious air-mishap.
Force Public Relations Officer , CP Frank Mba, in a statement said the Nigeria Police Helicopter, Bell 429 5NMDA, flying from Abuja to Bauchi on Wednesday, February 26, 2022, was involved in a controlled safe landing at the Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa International Airport, Bauchi.
Mba who said that the aircraft did not crash explained none of the occupants sustained any injury whatsoever.
He said that the six on board including the pilot and co-pilot are in good condition.
The FPPRO said that the IGP has ordered investigation into the accident.
The police force stated that 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 noted that the Nigeria Police Air-wing – with a fleet of one fixed-wing aircraft, a citation jet and 13 helicopters – has got a strong history of air safety since its establishment in the year 1972.”
The crash of the helicopter was disclosed via a statement signed by the General Manager, Public Affairs of the Accident Investigation Bureau (AIB), Tunji Oketunbi, on Thursday.
Oketunbi had said in an earlier statement that the helicopter which took off from Abuja crashed at the Bauchi Airport aa about 7:30p.m. on Wednesday.
He added that no death was recorded but there were injuries sustained by the six persons on board the helicopter.
