The Nigeria Police Force has countered the Accident Investigation Bureau (AIB) over the reported crash of the Nigeria Police Helicopter, Bell 429 5NMDA.

The AIB had announced that helicopter crashed without any fatality but with six persons injured.

However, in a counter statement made available to The Star on Thursday, the Force Spokesman, CP Frank Mba rubbished the account of the Accident Bureau.

The police said the helicopter was involved in a controlled safe landing at the Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa International Airport, Bauchi.

They also denied fatality in the incident.

Mba said: “The Nigeria Police Helicopter, Bell 429 5NMDA, flying from Abuja to Bauchi on Tuesday, February 26, 2022, was involved in a controlled safe landing at the Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa International Airport, Bauchi.

“The aircraft did not crash as being reported in some sections of the media and none of the occupants sustained any injury whatsoever. All six on board including the pilot and co-pilot are in good condition.

“Similarly, the aircraft, which was flown by one of the best Police Pilots, was professionally safe-landed with minor damage on the rear rotor as a result of obstacle at the landing spot. The incident occurred around 7:30PM (local time).

“The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Usman Alkali Baba, has commended the Police Air-Wing for their professionalism in safe-landing the aircraft and averting any serious air-mishap.

“He further noted that the Nigeria Police Air-wing – with a fleet of one fixed-wing aircraft, a citation jet and 13 helicopters – has got a strong history of air safety since its establishment in the year 1972.”

The crash of the helicopter was disclosed via a statement signed by the General Manager, Public Affairs of the Accident Investigation Bureau (AIB), Tunji Oketunbi, on Thursday.

Oketunbi stated that the helicopter which took off from Abuja crashed at the Bauchi Airport aa about 7:30p.m. on Wednesday.
He added that no death was recorded but there were injuries sustained by the six persons on board the helicopter.

The statement read: “On 26th January, 2022, Accident Investigation Bureau, Nigeria was notified by Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) about an accident involving a Bell 429 helicopter with Registration Marks 5N-MDA owned and operated by Nigerian Police Force (NPF).

“The accident occurred on 26th January, 2022 around 7:30pm (Local Time) at Bauchi Airport.

“The NPF helicopter had departed Abuja at 16:54 UTC for Bauchi with Six persons on board maintaining 5,500ft.

“There were some injuries but no fatality.

“The investigating agency, AIB-N needs and hereby solicits for your assistance. We want the public to know that we would be amenable to receiving any video clips, evidences, or information any member of the public may have of the accident that can assist us with this investigation.

“The Bureau will appreciate that the general public and press respect the privacy of the people involved and NOT assume the cause of the accident until formal report is released,” Oketunbi stated.

TheStar