2nd August, 2023
By Florence Onuegbu
Lagos governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu has commended two young Nigerians for their prompt response which led to the rescue of two crew members of a Jabiru airplane that crashed in Oba Akran Avenue, Ikeja area of the state on Tuesday afternoon.
According to Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau, NSIB, the single-engine fixed wing – Jabiru aircraft with two passengers on board crash-landed into an old communication pole inward Ikeja Bus Stop on Oba Akran Avenue, Ikeja Lagos some minutes after 3.00 p.m. on Tuesday.
However, the two crew members on the plance said to be white men, but whose nationality are yet to be revealed, were rescued even before the arrival of government’s emergency responders.
Speaking with journalists after visiting the site Sanwo-Olu said no lives were lost in the unfortunate incident because of the quick intervention of the residents of the area who witnessed the crash.
The Governor noted that the residents intervened to save the lives of the two occupants of the crashed plane, even before the arrival of government’s own emergency responders.
Sanwo-Olu specifically mentioned two individuals – Oluwafemi and Opeyemi, who participated in putting out the fire from the aircraft after it crash-landed.
According to him, while everybody was running away, Opeyemi and Oluwafemi were the very first people that looked for water and they were able to also help to rescue the two passengers that were inside the airplane
”There was an unfortunate helicopter crash on the road of Oba Akran, right in the middle of the road. It was a single-engine helicopter that had two passengers on board.
”The two passengers on board have been rescued. They are currently at a hospital and are receiving treatment as we speak.
”We do not know the cause of the helicopter crash. That would be done by experts at the NSIB, which is an investigative bureau.
”We could see that the crash site had been secured. All the wreckage has been evacuated and moved into a truck.
“It would be transported officially and handed over to the Nigerian Aviation Authority where I am sure necessary investigations would be done.
”We are thankful to all the residents and all of you that came out very quickly and were able to rescue the occupants. Thanks to workers at the fuel station because where the crash happened was a gas line.
”I am thankful to the two people I mentioned earlier and I am sure we are happy that while the unfortunate incident happened in the middle of the road, it has not led to any fatality,” he said.
Sanwo-Olu added that extensive investigation into the incident would be carried out by the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB).
He commended the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), for relentlessly clearing the road off debris from the helicopter.
The governor said official information from the Federal Airport Authority was also expected on the incident.
”We thank God, it wasn’t more than this. I am sure the investigation would reveal all of the things that have gone wrong and we are hoping that the people responsible will be held accountable at the end of the day,” he said.
(NAN)