AIB solicits public help to unravel cause of helicopter crash -

The Accident Investigation Bureau, AIB, has said it is soliciting the assistance of the general public to unravel the cause of the helicopter crash on Saturday in Kabba, Kogi state.

The bureau is asking for any video clips, relevant evidence, or information to assist them in their investigation.

In a statement, Akin Olateru, AIB Commissioner, said, “As the Investigating agency, AIB needs and hereby solicits for your help. We want the public to know that we would be amenable to receiving any video clip(s), relevant evidence, or information any member of the public may have of the accident; that can assist us with this investigation.

“On February 2, 2019 at about 1331 UTC, (14:31 Local Time) an helicopter (AgustaWestland 139) with Nigerian Registration Marks 5N-CML and serial number: 31389, ” helicopter owned and operated by Caverton Helicopters crashed on landing in Kabba, Kogi State, with 12 people on board including the Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Professor Yemi Osinbajo (SAN),Passengers and crew survived the accident with no injury”.

Olateru said, the investigation was not to apportion blame but about fact finding geared towards making safety Recommendations with a view to preventing future occurrences.

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The AIB boss enjoined the media and the general public to respect the privacy of the people involved and not to pre-empt the cause of the accident, adding that the agency would release the preliminary report which would include factual information about the accident in a matter of days.

“I will like to appreciate the professionalism of the rescue team, without whose effort there may have been recorded casualty and/or injury”.

He also assured that the investigation would be detailed, thorough and timely while urging the public to furnish it with any information to assist it using its App and email.

IFEOMA OKEKE

Ifeoma Okeke-Korieocha is the Aviation Correspondent at BusinessDay Media Limited, publishers of BusinessDay Newspapers. She is also the Deputy Editor, BusinessDay Weekender Magazine, the Saturday Weekend edition of BusinessDay. She holds a BSC in Mass Communication from the prestigious University of Nigeria, Nsukka and a Masters degree in Marketing at the University of Lagos. As the lead writer on the aviation desk, Ifeoma is responsible and in charge of the three weekly aviation and travel pages in BusinessDay and BDSunday. She also overseas and edits all pages of BusinessDay Saturday Weekender. She has written various investigative, features and news stories in aviation and business related issues and has been severally nominated for award in the category of Aviation Writer of the Year by the Nigeria Media Nite-Out awards; one of the Nigeria’s most prestigious media awards ceremonies. Ifeoma is a one-time winner of the prestigious Nigeria Media Merit Award under the 'Aviation Writer of the Year' Category. She is the 2025 Eloy Award winner under the Print Media Journalist category. She has undergone several journalism trainings by various prestigious organisations. Ifeoma is also a fellow of the Female Reporters Leadership Fellowship of the Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism.