Air Chief visits injured crew members, orders prob

The Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Hasan Abubakar, has encouraged airmen not to be dissuaded by the crash of the service’s attack helicopter in Port Harcourt.

This was as he ordered immediate investigation into the cause of the helicopter which crashed shortly after takeoff for an operation against oil thieves in Rivers State on Friday.

He also visited the five persons onboard the aircraft who escaped death but sustained injuries.

Speaking during his visit to the state, the Air Chief urged the airmen to see the setback as a “setup for a resilient comeback”.

A statement on Sunday by NAF’s Director of Public Relations and Information, Air Commodore Edward Gabkwet, said Abubakar challenged personnel in the region to bring an end to the activities of oil thieves.

The statement partly read, “Following the unfortunate crash of a Nigerian Air Force MI-35P attack helicopter in Port Harcourt on Friday, the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Hasan Abubakar, travelled to Port Harcourt to assess the situation, visit the crew and encourage the personnel of 115 Special Operations Group (115 SOG).

“While addressing the personnel of 115 SOG, Air Marshal Abubakar encouraged them to see the setback as a setup for a resilient comeback, channelling efforts toward thwarting the activities of economic saboteurs and countering oil theft.”

Gabkwet said the Air Chief urged the personnel to see air accidents as an impetus that would propel them toward seeking improved safety management measures.

He said, “You must therefore never be discouraged as the hopes of millions of Nigerians rest on our shoulders. The realisation of these aspirations is hinged on our ability to combat all forms of criminality that threaten our peace and stability.

“Times like these are a sad reminder of the inherent risks in military aviation, especially when flying activities, occasioned by our current security challenges, have tremendously increased. As we continue to fly intensively, incidents are bound to occur. Nevertheless, we must continue to ensure we minimize the risk factors as reasonably practicable.”

He said the Air Chief has directed an immediate investigation into the cause of the accident to enable the service to learn from the incident and prevent future occurrences.

Earlier, the Air Chief had visited the five crew members of the ill-fated aircraft and directed the Commander of the Medical Centre to ensure they received the utmost attention required.