The House of Representatives has resolved to investigate claims of engine failure and bird strikes on two aircraft belonging to Max Air and Aero Contractors.
The resolution was sequel to a unanimous adoption of a motion by Rep. Bala Umar (APC-Kano) at plenary on Wednesday.
Moving the motion, Umar recalled that on Tuesday, May 18, there was an incident of engine failure and bird strikes on Max Air and Aero Contractors aircraft.
He said that both aircraft were carrying 140 air passengers including the Emir of Kano, Alhaji Aminu Ado Bayero and 139 others.
The Rep said that both flights escaped accidents and possible deaths as they separately departed Kano and Port Harcourt Airports for Abuja.
He said that the Max Air plane with registration number VM1645 which was scheduled for takeoff by 1.30p.m had delayed for about 30 minutes before departing only to escape air crash.
He added that Aero Contractors’ Boeing 737-500 with the registration number 5N-BKR encountered bird strike 10 minutes upon take-off and eventually returned to base.
“There are allegations of negligence on the part of the airliners in applying safety precautions leading to these accident threats.
“One of the passengers said that despite the echoing of a large strange sound at the point of take-off by the Max aircraft, the pilot and his crew dismissed any feeling of insecurity and took off.
“Aware that in view of several issues of contact between birds and aircraft causing accidents and deaths, best practice ensures the use of Bird Strike Avoidance Radars to avoid such unfortunate situations.’’
Umar expressed dismay that bird strike was increasingly becoming recurring incidents in our airports with reports suggesting more of these cases prevalent at the Aminu Kano International Airport Kano.
Umar stressed the need to avoid air accidents resulting from engine failure and bird strikes in order to safeguard the lives and property of Nigerians.
In his ruling, the Deputy Speaker of the House, Rep. Ahmed Wase, mandated the Committee on Aviation to investigate the claims with a view to avoiding accidents that would lead to loss of lives and property. (NAN)
