TWO persons have been hospitalised after a Diamond training aircraft operated by the Aviation Training School in Ilorin crash-landed, this newspaper gathered.
The incidents, according to staff members of the aviation training school, occurred around 4:00 pm on Friday.
The unfortunate incident occurred during a simulated instrument approach on Runway 05 at the Ilorin International Airport.
A simulated instrument approach, often referred to as simulated instrument flight is a kind of flight where a pilot flies using only the aircraft’s instruments for navigation and control.
In place of instrument meteorological conditions, the pilot wears a view-limiting device, such as an IFR hood or goggles, which restricts their view of the outside environment.
While no death was recorded in the incident, the two occupants of the aircraft have been hospitalized.
At the time of this report, the state of the victims’ health cannot be ascertained.
Meanwhile, the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau through a statement by the Director of Public Affairs and Family Assistance,Mrs Bimbo Oladeji, said investigation has commenced into the root cause of the crash.
The body of the accident investigation stated that the plane crashed during a simulated instrument approach on Runway 05 at Ilorin International Airport. The aircraft was said to have veered off the runway and stopped on the grass verge.
The NSIB added that “Two occupants were on board. Both sustained serious injuries and were swiftly evacuated to a medical facility, coordinated by the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency. In response, the NSIB Go-Team is preparing to depart from Abuja to Ilorin to conduct on-site investigations.
“The team will secure the site, collect physical evidence, interview witnesses, and retrieve operational data to establish the cause and contributing factors of the incident.”
Speaking through the statement, the Director General of the NSIB, Captain Alex Badeh, said, “Our thoughts are with the injured, and we commend the swift medical and emergency response. Now, our focus is on understanding exactly what went wrong. Every investigation is an opportunity to improve safety. We are deploying our team to Ilorin to ensure that no detail is overlooked.”
The Bureau, however, urged the public and media to avoid speculation and to await verified updates from the authorities, “ as the NSIB remains committed to ensuring a thorough, independent, and professional investigation that supports ongoing efforts to enhance aviation safety in Nigeria.”
Olajide added that further updates will be provided as the investigation progresses.