Averted crash: Adeleke’s aide alleges sabotage

Olawale Rasheed, the governor of Osun State’s spokesperson, stated on Sunday that Governor Ademola Adeleke and a few of his aides had nearly avoided an airplane disaster.

Rasheed claimed that the governor was being transported in a plane that may have had its engine tampered with.

An airplane carrying Adeleke and some of its staff reportedly came dangerously close to crashing on September 5 as it tried to take off from Lagos for a trip to Abuja. Rasheed confirmed the report in a statement on Sunday and added that preliminary findings from the internal investigation suggested the possibility of sabotage.

Rasheed said that the plane had the best technical crew and was never left empty so that birds could construct nests on board.

“Contrary to the claim by the hanger owner that birds’ nests caused the incident, birds’ nests are made with straws, not bid wires as in this case,” continued the statement.

Soon after boarding and less than two minutes after the start of tarmac taxing, the almost fatal situation was avoided.

The pilots quickly ordered the passengers to leave the aircraft after hearing an early warning noise from the engines. The entire event took place in five minutes.

The internal investigation’s preliminary findings suggested sabotage. However, the incident is currently under investigation by local and international authorities.

However, he gave the public the reassurance that Adeleke and his assistants were safe because there had been no accidents or external explosions on the aircraft.

In the meantime, a full inquiry into this occurrence has been launched by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority and the Nigeria Safety inquiry Bureau.

Capt. Musa Nuhu, the NCAA’s director general, revealed this in a press release on Sunday.

Today’s incident occurred at the Lagos airport as the plane was supposed to fly Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke and his entourage to Abuja.

“A full-fledged investigation of the incident has since begun,” the statement said in part.

The Honourable Minister, Mr. Festus Keyamo, SAN, pledged that the NCAA’s findings and recommendations would be carried out in accordance with Nigerian Civil Aviation Regulations and international best practices while also expressing relief that the incident had ended without any injuries.