25th November, 2013
Simon Ateba/Aviation correspondent
The Accident Investigation Bureau, AIB, has opened an investigation into the Ilorin plane crash which occurred on Monday morning when a training aircraft came down with three persons onboard at 11.33am., the agency said on Monday evening.
“We have commenced investigation into the Ilorin plane crash,” said Tunji Oketunbi, AIB spokesperson.
Oketunbi did not provide more details.
The three crew members on board the training aircraft of the International Aviation College, Ilorin, escaped when the plane crashed during a routine exercise.
The incident occurred at about 11.33 a.m. today within the vicinity of Ilorin Airport.
The college’s Acting Rector, Capt. Nuhu Abdulkareem, who announced the plane crash at a press conference in Ilorin, said it was the first recorded incident since its inception.
Abdulkareem said the three crew members of the single engine Diamond aircraft with registration number 5N-BRD were later taken to the college’s clinic for proper check-up and were certified fit.
He said the college had established contact with the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority and the Accident Investigation Bureau, statutory bodies responsible for regulating aviation safety and investigating incidents.
He said the management of the college was awaiting the arrival of the officials of both agencies from Abuja to investigate the incident.