By ITOHAN ABARA-LASERIAN

The Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) has offered technical assistance to the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) following the crash of its ATR-42 aircraft at Igbokoda, Ondo State, on Monday.

The bureau announced the offer in a statement signed by its Director-General, Capt. Alex Badeh.

Badeh said the bureau was ready to deploy investigators and make its Flight Safety Laboratory available for the recovery and readout of flight-data and cockpit-voice recordings, if requested by NAF.

Badeh noted that the accident involved a military aircraft, adding that in accordance with the NSIB Establishment Act, 2022, investigation of military aviation accidents rested with military authorities.

He said that NSIB would not investigate military plane accidents unless formally invited to do so by the relevant authorities.

“Should the Nigerian Air Force so request, the bureau stands ready to assist,” he said.

He said that such assistance could include deployment of investigators and use of its Flight Safety Laboratory for flight-data and cockpit-voice recovery and readout.

Badeh also said that NSIB could also provide related technical support for military investigation of the accident.

He commended the swift activation of search and rescue operations and efforts of first responders at the crash site.

He urged the public to rely only on official updates from NAF with regard to the rescue operations and any investigation into the accident.

He sympathised with the Nigerian Air Force and families and colleagues of those on board the aircraft.

Earlier, the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Mr Festus Keyamo (SAN), confirmed that 25 passengers and seven crew members were on board the ill-fated aircraft.

Keyamo said air traffic controllers lost contact with the aircraft, with registration number NGR 931, at 9.13 a.m.

The wreckage was subsequently located near the Naval Base, Igbokoda, Ondo State.

NAF also confirmed the plane crash in a statement shortly after it occurred. (NAN)