Osinbajo Helicopter Crash: Inappropriate Landing, Non-Adherence To Company Procedures Reasons For Accident – AIB

…….Threatens jail sentence for overwriting of FDR, CVR by airlines

Accident Investigation Bureau (AIB) has identified inappropriate landing technique, non-adherence to company procedures and lack of risk assessment among others by pilots of Caverton Helicopters as some of the contributory factors responsible for the helicopter crash involving Vice President Yemi Osinbajo in Kabba in Kogi State in 2019.

This is as AIB warned that henceforth any airline found wanting in tampering with incident or accident evidence would be prosecuted in the court of law.

Engr. Akin Olateru, the Commissioner of AIB stated this on Tuesday in Abuja during the release of four major incidents and accidents reports released by the bureau.

According to Olateru, the AgustaWestland AW139 helicopter operated by Caverton Helicopters with the registration marks: 5N-CML, which occurred at Kabba, Kogi State on February 2, 2019 was due to human errors.

There were 12 persons including Vice President Osinbajo and three crewmembers onboard the helicopter when the accident occurred.

Olateru in his speech, stated that the helicopter had departed Lagos at about 07:26hrs for Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja, to conduct a VIP charter flight from Abuja to Okene via Kabba and return to Abuja.

He stated that the positioning flight to Abuja was normal and the helicopter was refueled, while the flight crew prepared for the VIP charter flight to Kabba.

He explained that at about 13:46hrs, the helicopter departed Abuja runway 22 for Kabba, stressing that the flight crew stated that they sighted the intended landing area as a result of the cloud of residual dust generated by the downwash of a Police helicopter.