Though Nigeria did not record any major plane crash in 2017, but there were pockets of plane crashes/mishaps involving Nigerians. This report highlights a few of the air accidents.
July
Nigerian Pilot dies in plane crash while flying solo
A young Nigerian pilot, Mark Ukaere died in a plane crash while flying solo in Everglades, Miami, USA.
According to reports from NBC Miami news, the Nigerian pilot was involved in a plane crash on Wednesday, July 5, 2017.
Ukaere, who had attended the Dean international flight school to obtain an advanced certification, was flying solo in a Cessna 152 in which he crashed.
The ill-fated plane which was said to have been reported missing around 10pm on the fateful day, was found by an air rescue unit around 1:58pm same day, in an area near homestead general aviation.
The Miami-Dade police said the missing plane had been called in by the owner of the dean flight school, prior to it’s discovery. Ukaere’s body was found on the grass where it was thrown from the crashed plane.
Ukaere’s roommates confirmed that he was a licensed pilot.
The owner of the flight school, Robert Dean, said:
“The individual was qualified to fly the aircraft, but he broke every single company policy. In our minds, we thought that he had already taken off, and he was doing what’s called a solo cross country. People went looking for the aircraft but could not find it, and then Tuesday was the holiday, the 4th of July.”
“He took off, and he went to what’s basically called ‘the black hole. It’s completely pitch dark there. You really don’t know whether you’re right side up or upside down. Flying in a ‘black hole,’ the plane spirals down and crashes straight in.”
A trainer at the school also said Ukaere didn’t have enough experience to enable him fly alone.
He said:“You take your time, you log your hours, but those hours do not really guarantee the right experience or the right to control the aircraft. Some people get it in 20, some people get it in 60. So it is really sad, but it is not discouraging at all because it is motivation to investigate that occurrence — what happened, what was the effect of it and to learn from it.”
August
NAF Instructor dies in Kaduna plane crash
An unidentified Nigerian Air Force (NAF) pilot died in an air crash during a mission in Kaduna State.
NAF Director of Public Relations and Information, Air Commodore Olatokunbo Adesanya, explained that the cause of the crash was unknown.
He said: “A NAF Beetle Aircraft crashed in Kaduna while on a mission. The only soul on board the aircraft, one of the NAF’s experienced instructor pilots, was unfortunately lost during the mishap.
“The cause of the incident is unknown but the Chief of the Air Staff (CAS) has immediately directed the constitution of a board of inquiry to determine the causes of the crash.”
According to Adesanya, “The unfortunate incident is a tragic reminder of the hazards associated with the flying profession.
“The CAS and the entire NAF family commiserate with the relatives of the late instructor pilot.”
October
Bishop Oyedepo survives plane crash
Presiding Bishop of the Living Faith Church Worldwide (LFCWW), David Oyedepo, almost died in a plane crash.
The plane he boarded was said to have developed fault mid-air.
It was repotedly the third time Bishop Oyedepo would be involved in near air mishap.
Giving a testimony at the church headquarters, Oyedepo said before the trip, the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Pastor Enoch Adejare Adeboye visited him unannounced and prayed for him.
According to report from the aircraft’s pilot, Captain Samuel Adegoga, “The main malfunction we had was a stabiliser twin-motor failure. During the said flight that we had the twin motor failure, the auto-pilot could no longer exert the desired pressure to keep the aircraft in the required altitude for stability flight.
“The captain disconnected the auto-pilot, took and returned the aircraft to the required altitude for that phase of the flight. Because the aircraft was out of trim during this takeover, the aircraft abruptly pitched off with much pitch force.
“The captain counteracted it with a pitch down force. These counter forces caused turbulence and movement in the cabin and cargo hold. Heavy items in the cargo section fell from their compartment, making a loud noise,” the pilot wrote.
