The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has constituted a 12-member Aircraft Accident Investigation Board to determine the circumstances and causes of the October 5 crash involving its ATR 42 aircraft, NAF 931, in Igbokoda, Ondo State, which killed all those on board.
The investigation is seeking to examine the operational, technical, environmental, human and organisational factors that may have contributed to the accident, as the Air Force intensifies efforts to establish what went wrong and identify measures to prevent a recurrence.
The NAF disclosed this in a statement on Tuesday signed by Ehimen Ejodame, Director of Public Relations and Information, Headquarters Nigerian Air Force.
According to the statement, Sunday Aneke, Chief of the Air Staff, has directed that search and recovery operations be sustained alongside a comprehensive investigation into the crash.
The Service said the board would systematically examine available evidence, establish the facts surrounding the accident and determine both its immediate and underlying causes.
Francis Ankeli will serve as president of the Aircraft Accident Investigation Board, while Ebimobo Ebiowe, head of the Investigation and Recovery Team, will coordinate the response to the incident.
The NAF said the 12-member board comprises personnel with specialised experience in aviation operations, flight safety, piloting, air traffic control, aircraft engineering, maintenance, medical services and other relevant technical fields.
Representatives of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority and the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau have also been included on the board.
According to the Air Force, the board’s mandate extends beyond identifying the immediate cause of the accident to examining underlying factors that may have contributed to the incident.
“Its work will involve the systematic examination, documentation and preservation of relevant evidence to establish the facts and determine the immediate and underlying causes of the occurrence,” the statement said.
The investigation will also assess the adequacy and effectiveness of the emergency response following the crash, including search and rescue operations, medical response, recovery efforts and the management of the accident site.
The NAF said the board would make evidence-based recommendations to address identified deficiencies, strengthen flight safety procedures and minimise the possibility of similar accidents in the future.
It added that the findings would inform appropriate safety measures, reaffirming its commitment to implementing relevant recommendations arising from the investigation.
Meanwhile, the Service said it had established a direct helpline at its headquarters under the Office of the Directorate of Veterans Affairs to provide information and clarification to the recorded next of kin of personnel affected by the crash.
The arrangement is intended to provide an official channel through which bereaved families can obtain verified information and receive assistance as the recovery and investigative processes continue.
The NAF also disclosed that administrative arrangements had been activated, including meetings with affected families and other support measures.
The steps, according to the Service, form part of its response to the tragedy and its engagement with families whose relatives were on board the aircraft.
The Air Force acknowledged the public’s interest in the investigation and pledged to provide appropriate updates as verified information becomes available.
However, it cautioned against speculation or premature conclusions about the cause of the crash, stressing that the circumstances surrounding the incident could only be established after the investigation had been completed and its findings properly considered.
“Conclusions regarding the cause of the accident would be premature until the investigation is completed and its findings are duly considered,” the statement added.