Power Minister, 12 others escape death as jet crash-lands in Ibadan
Minister of Power, Mr Adebayo Adelabu and 12 others have escaped death following a plane crash in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.
It was gathered that the private jet operated by Flint Aero crash-landed on Friday night at the Samuel Ladoke Akintola Airport.
Having departed the Abuja airport on Friday evening, the aircraft crash-landed into the bush during an effort to land at about 10 p.m. close to the airport runway in Ibadan.
Remarkably, there were no fatalities, although the aircraft sustained significant damage.
However, Oracle Today gathered that the pilot had been cleared for an RNAV approach to Runway 22 of Samuel Ladoke Akintola Airport, Ibadan. But the plane skidded off the runway.
Quick and efficient action allowed all passengers and crew members to be safely evacuated.
Meanwhile the minister has allayed fears about his safety.
A source close to the minister told newsmen in Ibadan that Adelabu was in good spirits and not perturbed by the incident.
”The Minister feels the incident is not something to worry about. It was actually a minor thing, and that is how he has taken it,” an aide of the minister, who asked to stay anonymous, said.
He further said the Minister was particularly not worried by the incident because it did not involve any of the passengers leaving with any injuries.
”Everyone on board the aircraft when the incident happened actually alighted without any problem, and we have no cause to worry,” the aide said.
Meanwhile, the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) has initiated an inquest into the accident.
In a statement on Saturday, the Director, Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, NSIB, James Odaudu, who confirmed the accident, stated that the agency has been notified and has commenced an investigation.
He stated that the aircraft, with 10 passengers and 3 crew members onboard, was en route to Ibadan from Abuja.
“The aircraft, on final approach to landing Runway 22, Ibadan Airport crashed short of the runway.
“There was no fatality, as all passengers and crew were safely evacuated.
“As the investigating agency, NSIB needs and hereby solicits for your assistance. We want the public to know that we would be amenable to receiving any video clip, relevant evidence, or information any members of the public may have of the accident; that can assist us with this investigation.
“The Bureau will appreciate that the general public and press respect the privacy of the people involved and not assume the cause of the serious incident until formal report is released.
“The Bureau will release the preliminary report as soon as possible.”
