The Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) has commenced an investigation into the recent incident involving a ValueJet CRJ-900 Bombardier aircraft.
The aircraft, carrying 62 passengers and five flight crew members, skidded off the runway at Port Harcourt International Airport in Rivers state after landing on algae.
In a statement issued by James Odaudu, the NSIB’s Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, the bureau appealed to the public to refrain from speculating on the likely causes of the incident and to respect the privacy of those onboard.
The NSIB is diligently working to determine both the immediate and remote causes of the incident, with investigators already present at the scene.
Fortunately, there were no injuries or fatalities reported, and all passengers and crew members were safely evacuated without any damage to the aircraft.
It is worth noting that the Nigerian aviation sector has recently faced challenges, with two plane accidents in a short period.
In a separate incident, a Boeing 737 Jet owned by Aero Contractors Airlines crash-landed at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja.
Additionally, a private HS25B aircraft operated by Flint Aero crash-landed in Ibadan, the capital of Oyo state, just last week.
The NSIB, as a multi-modal investigation agency, is entrusted with the responsibility of investigating transportation accidents and serious incidents in Nigeria.
Their primary goal is to identify the probable causes of such incidents and provide safety recommendations aimed at preventing their reoccurrence.
As the investigation progresses, the NSIB urges the public and media to avoid speculative reporting and allow their expert team to gather and analyze all relevant information.
By doing so, a thorough and accurate understanding of the incident can be achieved, leading to effective recommendations to enhance aviation safety in Nigeria.
