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Missing aircraft:NEMA resorts to trekking
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Lyel Imoke
The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) says it is resorting to trekking in the bid to locate the missing Beech craft 190 aircraft.
The aircraft, which left Lagos on March 15 on its way to Obudu Ranch, got missing shortly before it was scheduled to arrive.
The aircraft was on its way to pick the Cross River State governor, Lyel Imoke, who was to testify at a public hearing of the House of Representatives Committee on power in Abuja.
David Ashebu, the agency’s director in charge of search and rescue, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Abuja that the agency was resorting to “trekking after covering the suspected areas by air.
He blamed the delay in locating the missing aircraft on the difficult terrain, sayingthat the area was mountainous.
“The search by air took us to Cross River, Benue and Ebonyi which are the suspected areas, and now, we are trying to see if we can access those areas by foot.
“We know that it will take awhile to be able to cover the whole areas by foot,’’ Ashebu added.
He told NAN that the National Airspace Management Agency (NAMA)and commercial airlines were assisting NEMA with helicopters to carry out “intensive search”
“Others, who have also assisted in the search are the local government chairmen in the suspected areas and the army which gives us resport on daily basis,’’ he said.
Ashebu said the Agency had yet to seek the assistance of any country in the search and rescue operation.
“We cannot do this until we have exhausted all options at our disposal,’’ he said. Ashebu, however, said that an official request had been madto Cameroon “to enable us go into their territory for search’’.
“We are still expecting theirreply,’’ he added.
Meanwhile, the National Association of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers (NAAPE) says it is deeply disturbed that the missing plane has not been found.
NAAPE, in a statement signed by its national president, Julius Owolabi, on Tuesday in Lagos pleaded with the necessary authorities to intensify and widen the scope of the search.
It expressed shock at the continued disappearance of the aircraft belonging to Wings Aviation.
“The association endorses the seeking of international assistance in areas of sophisticated equipment and personnel to aid in the search,’’ the statement said.
It argued that the call for the sack of some aviation chiefs was uncalled for.
According to NAAPE, the sacking is no solution to the problem instead it will erode achievements so far recorded in the industry.
NAAPE called for proper investigation in line with International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) procedure to avoid future occurrence.
The association called on the Federal Government to set up a search and rescue unit in the aviation sector to complement the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA).
The association stated that agencies and bodies in the aviation sector should be allowed to function without
undue political interference.
In another development, the Aviation Round Table (ART) in Lagos has called for the licensing of
airstrips and heliports for national security.
The ART President, Capt. Dele Ore, said at the fifth anniversary of the body, that government’s policy to ensure timely and coordinated reaction to aircraft accidents
had not been actualised.
Prince Julius Adelusi-Adeluyi, who chaired the event, said that all was not well in the aviation industry.
Adelusi-Adeluyi, who is Executive Chairman of Juli Pharmacy, said the problem with the nation was that of “unethical behaviour as people conducted illegalities without being sanctioned’’.
He called for sanctions on offenders to restore sanity and ethical standards in the nation. (NAN)
The aircraft was on its way to pick the Cross River State governor, Lyel Imoke, who was to testify at a public hearing of the House of Representatives Committee on power in Abuja.
David Ashebu, the agency’s director in charge of search and rescue, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Abuja that the agency was resorting to “trekking after covering the suspected areas by air.
He blamed the delay in locating the missing aircraft on the difficult terrain, sayingthat the area was mountainous.
“The search by air took us to Cross River, Benue and Ebonyi which are the suspected areas, and now, we are trying to see if we can access those areas by foot.
“We know that it will take awhile to be able to cover the whole areas by foot,’’ Ashebu added.
He told NAN that the National Airspace Management Agency (NAMA)and commercial airlines were assisting NEMA with helicopters to carry out “intensive search”
“Others, who have also assisted in the search are the local government chairmen in the suspected areas and the army which gives us resport on daily basis,’’ he said.
Ashebu said the Agency had yet to seek the assistance of any country in the search and rescue operation.
“We cannot do this until we have exhausted all options at our disposal,’’ he said. Ashebu, however, said that an official request had been madto Cameroon “to enable us go into their territory for search’’.
“We are still expecting theirreply,’’ he added.
Meanwhile, the National Association of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers (NAAPE) says it is deeply disturbed that the missing plane has not been found.
NAAPE, in a statement signed by its national president, Julius Owolabi, on Tuesday in Lagos pleaded with the necessary authorities to intensify and widen the scope of the search.
It expressed shock at the continued disappearance of the aircraft belonging to Wings Aviation.
“The association endorses the seeking of international assistance in areas of sophisticated equipment and personnel to aid in the search,’’ the statement said.
It argued that the call for the sack of some aviation chiefs was uncalled for.
According to NAAPE, the sacking is no solution to the problem instead it will erode achievements so far recorded in the industry.
NAAPE called for proper investigation in line with International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) procedure to avoid future occurrence.
The association called on the Federal Government to set up a search and rescue unit in the aviation sector to complement the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA).
The association stated that agencies and bodies in the aviation sector should be allowed to function without
undue political interference.
In another development, the Aviation Round Table (ART) in Lagos has called for the licensing of
airstrips and heliports for national security.
The ART President, Capt. Dele Ore, said at the fifth anniversary of the body, that government’s policy to ensure timely and coordinated reaction to aircraft accidents
had not been actualised.
Prince Julius Adelusi-Adeluyi, who chaired the event, said that all was not well in the aviation industry.
Adelusi-Adeluyi, who is Executive Chairman of Juli Pharmacy, said the problem with the nation was that of “unethical behaviour as people conducted illegalities without being sanctioned’’.
He called for sanctions on offenders to restore sanity and ethical standards in the nation. (NAN)
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