Air Crash: Pilots Discharged From Hospital

Two Nigerian Air Force pilots who survived an air crash at Uyo Airport were on Saturday discharged from the hospital.

Our correspondent  reports that a Nigerian Air force L-39 Jet trainer aircraft from the 303 flying training school Kano ,on a routine training exercise from Calabar to Uyo, crashed at 7.30 pm on October 28, 50 metres from Uyo. Airport.

Air Commodore Yusuf Anas, Director of Public Relations and Information Nigerian Air force, told newsmen  in Calabar on Saturday that shortly after the accident, the two pilots were rushed to the hospital for medical check up.

He said that after the checks, they were discharged and certified fit.

Anas said the Chief of Air Staff had sent an investigating team to the scene of the crash.

“As in line with the tradition of the Air Force, the moment any air craft accident occurs, the Chief of Air Staff will dispatch the safety investigators to the scene of the accident .

Anas said that despite the accident, the morale of pilots and other members of air crew would not be affected as the air force would continue with its programmes, including a fly past at the 7th Nigerian Air Force games taking place at Calabar and Uyo same time.

On the games, Anas said it was aimed at selecting a team that would represent the Nigeria Air Force at the Armed Forces games scheduled for next year.

Meanwhile, the Managing Director of the Akwa Ibom International Airport (AKIA) Capt. Jari Williams has said that the Friday crash by Nigerian Airforce (NAF) airplane did not damage any of its facilities.

Capt. Jari Williams, disclosed this on Saturday in a statement issued on the incident and made available to newsmen in Uyo.

The statement entitled, “Communiqué on NAF incident at AKIA”, said that the airplane crash landed 1,100 metres away from the Runway 21 at 7.09 pm.

“Meanwhile, no damage to AKIA facilities has been recorded. The two (02) pilots are hale and hearty and currently under observation as a matter of procedure.”

It explained that AKIA and Margaret Ekpo International Airport, Calabar were jointly selected as operation zone for the year 2011 Staff Continuity Training Exercise and Sports Week of Nigeria Airforce, currently going on in Calabar, Cross River.