TheNewsGuru

Tag: Aircraft

  • Labour Party blames Obi’s absence at debate on aircraft’s technical challenges

    Labour Party blames Obi’s absence at debate on aircraft’s technical challenges

    The Obi-Datti Campaign, under the Labour Partyi, on Sunday blamed the absence of its Presidential Candidate, Mr Peter Obi, at the presidential debate on aircraft’s technical challenges.

    Mr Diran Onifade, Head of Media, Obi-Datti Campaign Council, said this in a statement while explaining Obi’s absence at the presidential debate organised by Nigerian Elections Debate Group (NEDG) in Abuja.

    “The Obi-Datti Campaign hereby states that our candidate, Mr Peter Obi, was unable to attend the debate programme following the advice of the technical crew of the aircraft he was travelling in.

    “After an engagement in Akure, Ondo State, he meant to head for Abuja for the debate but was advised otherwise due to technical issues with the aircraft which made the Pilot decide to head for Lagos instead.

    “It must be noted that in anticipation of Mr Obi’s arrival, senior members of the campaign and the party had gathered at the International Conference Centre, Abuja, venue of the programme.

    “They included the Director General of the Campaign, Balogun Akin Osuntokun, Campaign Manager, Ambassador Oseloka Obaze, as well as Labour Party functionaries, including Mrs. Esther Nenadi Usman and Alhaji Audi Mohammed.”

  • What happened with our aircraft – NAF explains

    What happened with our aircraft – NAF explains

    The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has confirmed that its maritime patrol aircraft, a Cessna Citation CJ3, was involved in a mishap on Monday.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports NAF confirmed the accident in a statement released by Air Commodore Wap Maigida, Director of NAF’s Public Relations and Information.

    According to the statement, the Cessna Citation CJ3 was on a routine flight when it lost its tyres on touch and go flight in Ilorin, Kwara State.

    It had to carry out a controlled belly land at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos.

    “Fortunately, there were no fatalities or injuries to any crew member and persons on the ground.,” the statement reads.

    Meanwhile, it was gathered that the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Oladayo Amao has directed the immediate constitution of a Board of Inquiry to determine the cause(s) of the accident.

    “The NAF continues to solicit the understanding and support of the general public as it daily strives to ensure the security of Nigeria and Nigerians.,” the statement added.

  • Gov Fayemi, others witness landing of first aircraft to touch down in Ekiti airport

    Gov Fayemi, others witness landing of first aircraft to touch down in Ekiti airport

    A jubilant crowd and the Ekiti State Governor, Kayode Fayemi; on Saturday, witnessed the inaugural landing of the first aircraft to touch down at the newly constructed Ekiti Cargo Airport, along Ado-Ijan road, Ado-Ekiti, the state capital.

    Other dignitaries that witnessed it include the Minister of Trade, Industry and Investment- Niyi Adebayo; Ekiti Speaker- Funminiyi Afuye, his deputy- Hakeem Jamiu and other top government officials.

    The flight with registration number NAF 930 belonging to the Nigerian Air Force landed the airport around 10:20 am with the Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika and officials of the ministry on board.

    Fayemi was elated at the aircraft landing and construction of the airport in record time.

    The outgoing Governor, who described the airport as a dream come true for Ekiti people, said the facility would boost the socio-economic growth and development of the State..

    He added that the project, which began in 2019, was geared towards unlocking the vast potentials inherent in Ekiti to attract investors, provide easy transportation of agricultural produces, job opportunities and open Ekiti for rapid development.

    Fayemi said that the inauguration of the airport was in fulfillment of his promise to continue to work for the people of the state who elected him to his very last day in office saying the project saw the light of the day despite the very limited resources available to the state.

    He noted that his administration defied the challenges of COVID-19 which adversely affected global, national and state economies to ensure that the dream of the airport became a reality which culminated in the test landing of the first flight on his last day in office.

    Going down memory lane, the Governor recalled that the move to start the project began during his first tenure in 2012 with a Committee on the Viability of the Airport led by legal luminary, Aare Babalola, raised by his then administration noting that the Committee submitted its report in 2012.

    According to him, his first administration through the State Executive Council considered and approved the report submitted which was accommodated in its plan for the 2013-2015 Medium Term Sector Strategy but the plan was halted by his exit from office after the 2014 governorship election which placed the project on suspension.

    The Governor said his successor in office, Ayo Fayose, embraced the idea to continue with the project but it couldn’t see the light of the day until his tenure ended in 2018.

    He said further: “Upon my assumption of office in 2018, I appointed aviation experts and industry-related officials to kickstart the implementation of the project. They made several Advocate visits to communities in order to meet the requirements for the establishment of the airport.

    “The administration took the following steps: we secured the approval, the revalidation of approval from the Federal Ministry of Aviation. We also secured the Department of State Services (DSS) clearance, we paid all the necessary fees for the construction, planning and certification to the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority and conducted an Environmental and Sustainability Impact Assessment.

    “As a government that adheres strictly to the rule of law with unwavering respect for the rights of our people, we made several appeals to communities affected for enumeration of their farmlands to ensure commensurate monetary compensation is paid on their crops.

    “To this end, a total of 669 claimants were duly compensated out of those that presented themselves for the exercise. We acquired 4,017 hectares of land from nine communities: Ago Aduloju, Aso Ayegunle, Bolorunduro, Igbogun, Araromi, Obbo, Afao, Orun, Igbemo and Ijan covering three local government areas in the state.”

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that Aviation Minister Sirika also announced to the excited audience that the Federal Government would site a cargo facility at the airport. He described the Ekiti Airport as “an extremely very important project” which would turn facilitate import and export of goods and commodities.

    Senator Sirika recalled that when he was on the site for the groundbreaking in October 2019, there were divergent views as to the viability of the project noting that airports are being used by what he called “one-city nation-states in the world” to drive their economy.

    He added: “I use to make an assertion, thay one mile long road leads to nowhere but one mile runway leads to everywhere. You see, I came here today through the runway of this airport provided by Governor Fayemi. There is future with this project, market and trade can drive everybody here.

    “I was at ABUAD, I saw the university,t he farm, the industrial park and the hospital. If there is an airport here, it will connect people to this facility and reduce foreign medical tourism. Airports are by no means the best catalysts for economic growth of any state or nation.

    “35 percent of global trade by value is moved through airports and $18.6 billion of cargo is moved daily through air transportation. The wealthy among you should take to agriculture for example and begin to produce things that you will export to other parts of the world.

    “You can be land-locked but you cannot be sky-locked. We can all see the importance of having a facility like this. Thank you Mr Governor, you have provided this facility for the people of Ekiti State; they should own it, they should own it.”

    In his welcome address, Mr. Zhang Zichen, the Chairman of China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC), which handled the project, praised Governor Fayemi for the vision which he said would change the face of the state economy.

    Mr. Zichen explained that the airport is not just a project but “the engine of the economy of the state” and said it would open up Ekiti to more development and investment to the benefit of the state and business community.

    The CCECC boss who also described the airport as a “landmark project” said it was among notable projects completed by its corporation. He also hailed the Aviation Minister for being part of history and making the airport a reality.

  • 33 passengers escape death as aircraft’s engine catches fire mid-air

    A tragedy was averted when a distressed Overland aircraft with 33 passengers and four flight crew members successfully landed at the Murtala Muhammad International Airport, Lagos on the night of Wednesday, June 15, 2022.

     

    The ATR 42 aircraft which took off from Ilorin International Airport was approaching the Lagos airport when one of its engines suddenly caught fire mid-air.

     

    It was gathered that the pilots had to send out a Mayday to the Lagos control tower for emergency response.

     

    Mayday is a term in aviation used for an emergency situation.

     

    Confirming the incident in a statement on Thursday, the airline said the aircraft experienced an unusual high turbine temperature on one of its engines.

     

    The statement added that the passengers remained calm through the turbulence while the pilots safely landed the plane.

     

    The airline also said no passenger was hurt in the incident.

    33 passengers

     

    The statement reads in part: “Overland Airways wishes to inform the general public that its flight OF1188 from Ilorin to Lagos experienced an unusual high turbine temperature on one of its engines today, Wednesday, June 15, 2022, around 7:50 pm.

     

    “This occurred in the approach phase of flight and the aircraft landed very safely as the crew skillfully implemented their standard procedures for such abnormal situations.

     

    “All 33 passengers remained calm through the process and safely disembarked row by row in accordance with post-COVID-19 procedures after the aircraft came to a halt on the Murtala Mohammed International Airport Lagos runway 18 Right. No passenger was hurt in any way.

     

    “Overland Airways salutes the professional interventions of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) and the Accident Investigation Bureau Nigeria (AIB-N) which were very prompt and reassuring.”

     

    “Overland Airways regrets any inconvenience to its passengers and assures the traveling public of its full commitment to the safety of its services and passengers.”

  • Russian strikes in Kyiv kill 2, set aircraft factory ablaze

    Russian strikes in Kyiv kill 2, set aircraft factory ablaze

    Ukrainian city authority reported that two people were killed when a Russian shell smashed into an apartment block after a missile strike on another part of the Ukrainian capital.

    Deputy Mayor Mykola Povoroznyk said three Russian rockets also hit the Antonov aircraft factory in Kyiv and firefighters “localised” a blaze at the plant. There were no immediate reports of any deaths at the factory.

    Ukrainian television footage showed firefighters clambering through rubble and up a ladder into what was left of the smoldering apartment block that was hit in Kyiv’s Obolon district.

    A corpse lay on the ground, the face covered.

    Maksim Korovii, a resident of the badly damaged building, said he had hidden in a closet after being woken by his mother with smoke and dust everywhere.

    “We thought that we were being captured, that the Russians were getting in through the door. But we were wrong.

    “We got out from the apartment and saw that the staircase was not there anymore, everything was on fire.

    “We managed to put on whatever clothes we had at hand and made our way from balcony to balcony and in the end we climbed down by the next building’s entrance,” Korovii said.

    Kyiv Mayor, Vitali Klitschko said the second death on Monday was in the Kurenivka neighbourhood of the capital.

    Kyiv, a city of about three million in peacetime, has repeatedly come under fire since Russia invaded Ukraine on Feb. 24.

    Russia says it does not target civilians, describing its actions in Ukraine as a “special operation” to demilitarise and “denazify” its neighbour. Ukraine and Western allies call this a baseless pretext for a war of choice.

    Towns near Kyiv were being evacuated for the fifth successive day, regional governor Oleksiy Kuleba said as occasional explosions were heard in the distance.

    The extent of the damage at the Antonov factory was not immediately clear.

    Antonov, which was founded in the Soviet Union in 1946, has manufactured some 30 different types of airplane including the two biggest air cargo planes – the An-124 Ruslan and An-225 Mriya.

    Ukrainian state arms manufacturer, Ukroboronprom said in February that the Mriya, which can carry up to 250 tonnes, had been set ablaze in a Russian attack and that restoring it would cost more than three billion dollars.

  • 2023: APC in turbulent aircraft bound to crash soon – Wike

    2023: APC in turbulent aircraft bound to crash soon – Wike

    Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State has said the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) is in a turbulent aircraft that is bound to crash before arriving its destination.

    The Governor, who also acknowledged that his Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) would also face turbulence when choosing its 2023 presidential candidate, however, said the challenges of PDP would not lead to disintegration.

    Speaking on African Independent Television (AIT) on Thursday, Wike explained that only a courageous person with the capacity and vision to salvage the country would be supported to fly the presidential ticket of the PDP in the 2023 general election.

    He said though the party was yet to decide the geographical zone of its candidate, such person must have the capacity to confront will be one who can confront the tactics of APC.

    He said the process to determine who PDP will field as its presidential candidate will be a turbulent one.

    He said: “Let nobody come and tell you that in arriving at a presidential candidate that it will be easy. No way, it can never be. You know, there are two types of turbulences. There is turbulence that will not have a crash, which is a normal turbulence. There is turbulences that there is likely to be a crash.

    “Our own turbulence in PDP is the normal turbulence, which I believe we will get through it but APC turbulence is a turbulence that is likely to lead to a crash. APC is sinking. It is likely to crash. The plane will crash. The turbulence is very severe that it will crash. I believe it will crash. Our own turbulence will not last long. But that of the APC, the pilot will not even talk to you.

    “PDP has redeemed its position towards what Nigerians are expecting, because Nigerians are tired of what is going on in the country. So they need an alternative, and the only alternative as it is today is the Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP). ”

    Wike said as a firm and courageous person, he would only support a presidential candidate that would not mortgage the party for other selfish interest.

    “And so, if you want to run for presidency under PDP, I will not support somebody who’ll just want to bear the name of former presidential candidate, I will not agree to that. I must see that you are prepared for it, and to confront this evil called APC”, he said.

    Wike boasted that he felt fulfilled that PDP got it right with a peaceful conduct of its national convention that saw the emergence of a new competent national working committee, (NWC).

    He dismissed insinuations in some quarters that PDP governors wanted sole control of the party, saying any true party man would love a focused, stable and forward-looking PDP.

  • Abayomi Dairo, pilot who survived NAF aircraft crash shares testimony

    Abayomi Dairo, pilot who survived NAF aircraft crash shares testimony

    Flight Lieutenant Abayomi Dairo, pilot of the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) who recently escaped an aircraft crash has shared testimony of his survival.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports Flight Lieutenant Dairo got the aircraft he was battling bandits with shot down by the enemies recently.

    Luckily, the gallant pilot successfully ejected from the aircraft.

    Read testimony of Flight Lieutenant Abayomi Dairo below:

    Thank you so much everybody. I’m indebted to Bro Ekele and bro Olagbende, and everyone on this platform.

    Before Sunday I had been having dreams where I saw myself fighting and evading enemies like real-time war, day in day out, like nightmares, so when my jet got shot with the explosives and my flight controls were destroyed and I had no choice than to eject, I just said ‘God, finally, here we go’.

    As I was flanked by the bandits, I kept praying and I kept telling God to answer your prayers because I know you were all praying for me. I love you all. And I thank God for bestowing his love on me and saving me from death several times within that period.

    I will still share my testimonies but truly, God ordered my steps, the bandits (meanwhile they are ruthless like Boko haram, I dunno why we still call them bandits) were more interested in capturing me than shooting me at (even at point blank range), eventually they got neither.

    He gave me the strength to run and walk covering almost 30kms even with one strained leg.

    Having not had any food or water all day, I prayed for strength because I needed it, and he gave me.

    I can spend hours talking of how I lost and regained hope multiple times throughout my adventure, but God is faithful.

    It’s now I’m feeling all the pains I suffered from the ejection (including a fracture in my neck and painful back and chest), but God didn’t allow those pains to slow me down for the bandits to capture me.

    NAF platforms overhead also helped me to deter them a lot by making some of them to pin down while I kept running, and when they got close to me, I was still able to evade them by camouflaging (I was wearing green fg suits – in the green forest) and concealing myself.

    I ran into plenty spiders and I laid down several times out of weakness not knowing if anything poisonous would sting or bite me. All glory is to God, all glory.

    I have not been your most righteous brother, but I felt God’s hands in everything, even in every decision I took immediately I was shot, all the decisions worked together to save my life.

    Eg, removing my phone from my lap and putting it in my G -suit before pulling the ejection handle (I had to use the compass of the phone and AirNav Pro application to navigate), and making the decision to turn hard 90 degrees immediately the bandits lost sight of me on a sandy cliff where they couldn’t trace my footpath again (the CAS told me they got information that in turn, the bandits kept going straight in the direction I was initially going and they destroyed several villages and camps, killing plenty people, thinking those people harbored me).

    So much more… The village I eventually entered at night, I told God that the first person I see and call should favour me and that happened, he gave me clothes, pain-relieving drugs, food and water and even malt, and he organized for a bike to carry me to DanSadau early next morning (throughout the night I couldn’t sleep, I was praying that the bandits don’t attack the village because my right leg was already swollen and very painful so I couldn’t jump fences or run again, plus I didn’t want to bring death upon innocent people, and it may force the guy to give me out to the bandits…).

    They dropped me with their Emir who with pride and joy called the Army guys to come and meet me (they all had sleepless nights). NAF helicopters came to pick me up from there. There are so much to say. All thanks to God, thank you so much

    Flt. Lt. A Dairo

  • BREAKING: See photo of pilot who survived NAF aircraft crash in Zamfara

    BREAKING: See photo of pilot who survived NAF aircraft crash in Zamfara

    The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has confirmed that its Alpha Jet aircraft actually crashed in Zamfara State on Sunday, and that the pilot, Lieutenant Abayomi Dairo survived.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports NAF as saying Dairo was returning from a successful air interdiction mission when the aircraft he was in crashed about 12. 45 p.m. on Sunday.

    See photos of Lieutenant Abayomi Dairo in happy mood below:

    TNG reports, according to a statement by by Air Commodore Edward Gabkwet, the Director of Public Relations and Information, NAF Headquarter, Dairo used his survival instincts to evade bandits who targeted him, and sought refuge in nearby settlements awaiting sunset.

    Gabkwet stated that Dairo came under intense fire by the enemies at about 12. 45 p.m. on Sunday, leading to the NAF aircraft crash in Zamfara.

    He added that the pilot, using the cover of darkness and his phone set for navigation, was able to elude several bandits’ strongholds and maneuvered his way to a Nigerian Army Unit where he was finally rescued.

    While in hiding, Dairo confirmed that the presence of NAF aircraft within the vicinity of the crash site helped in scaring the bandits who were after him, thus enabling him to find refuge and escape to a safe location.

  • BREAKING: Our aircraft crashed, pilot ejected himself – NAF

    BREAKING: Our aircraft crashed, pilot ejected himself – NAF

    The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has confirmed it’s Alpha Jet aircraft crashed, putting to rest speculations that emerged on Sunday.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports Air Commodore Edward Gabkwet, Director of NAF Public Relations and Information confirmed this on Monday.

    In a statement, Air Commodore Gabkwet states that the brave pilot of the NAF aircraft survived the crash.

    According to Gabkwet, the NAF pilot, Flight Lieutenant Abayomi Dairo ejected himself from the aircraft before the crash.

    The statement reads: “On 18 July 2021, at about 12.45 pm, a Nigerian Air Force (NAF) Alpha Jet aircraft, returning from a successful air interdiction mission between the boundaries of Zamfara and Kaduna State, came under intense enemy fire which led to its crash in Zamfara State.

    “Luckily, the gallant pilot of the aircraft, Flight Lieutenant Abayomi Dairo, successfully ejected from the aircraft.

    “Using his survival instincts, the pilot, who came under intense ground fire from the bandits, was able to evade them and sought refuge in nearby settlements awaiting sunset.

    “Using the cover of darkness and his phone set for navigation, Flight Lieutenant Dairo was able to elude several bandits’ strongholds and maneuvered his way to a Nigerian Army Unit, where he was finally rescued.

    “It is instructive to note that upon receipt of the news of the crash, the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Oladayo Amao, had directed that all efforts must be emplaced to rescue the pilot.

    “Accordingly, NAF Intelligence Surveillance Reconnaissance (ISR) platforms and helicopter gunships provided close air support to NAF Special Forces and Nigerian Army troops who were able to locate the crash site and the pilot’s parachute, while also combing nearby locations for any sign of the pilot.

    “It is gladdening to note that while in hiding, Flight Lieutenant Dairo confirmed that the presence of NAF aircraft within the vicinity of the crash site helped in scaring the bandits who were after him, thus enabling him to find refuge and escape to a safe location.

    “It is important to also recall that only recently, the President, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR, had directed the Armed Forces of Nigeria to do all it takes to flush out criminal elements in Katsina, Zamfara and Kaduna States.

    “It is in fulfilment of this directive that the NAF, in conjunction with surface forces, has in the last 2 weeks mounted intensive day and night air interdiction operations against bandits and their hideouts, especially in these 3 states.

    “Through these intensive air operations, hundreds of bandits have been neutralized and several of their hideouts destroyed. Despite the setback of yesterday’s crash, the NAF remains committed towards fulfilling Mr President’s mandate as well as other constitutional roles assigned to it.

    “The willingness, readiness and tested ability of the NAF remains unshaken and unwavering as it continues to carry out its assigned roles”.

  • Insecurity: Why delivery of 12 A-29 Super Tucano aircraft to Nigeria delays – U.S.

    Insecurity: Why delivery of 12 A-29 Super Tucano aircraft to Nigeria delays – U.S.

    The United States of America (USA) has explained why Nigeria is yet to take delivery of twelve A-29 Super Tucano ground attack aircraft and weapons the country has ordered since 2017 to fight Boko Haram insurgency.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports Colonel Authur Ford of the United States Air Force Fighters and Advance Aircraft Directorate gave the explanation when a National Assembly (NASS) team led by Senator Michael Nnachi visited the aircraft manufacturers, Embraer Defence Security Incorporated (EDSI) in the U.S. on Thursday.

    Recall headquarters of the United States Department of Defence, the Pentagon, first made the twelve A-29 Super Tucano deal public in 2017, informing the US Congress of the sale of the ground attack aircraft and weapons to Nigeria.

    The A-29 Super Tucano aircraft, an agile, propeller-driven plane with reconnaissance and surveillance as well as attack capabilities, is made by Brazil’s Embraer.

    On arrival at EDSI on 27 May 2021, the NASS team queried A-29 Super Tucano aircraft manufacturers over delay in delivery of the ground attack aircraft and weapons ordered by Nigeria valued at $593m (N181bn).

    TNG reports the visit of the NASS team was part of the oversight functions of the NASS Joint Committee on Defence and Air Force for an inspection tour of EDSI, manufacturers of the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) A-29 Super Tucano aircraft, and specifically to assess the status and progress of work on the NAF A-29 Super Tucano aircraft.

    On arrival at EDSI on 27 May 2021, the NASS team was briefed on the progress of work on the NAF A-29 Super Tucano programme and the scheduled date of delivery.

    While briefing the NASS team, Colonel Authur Ford of the United States Air Force Fighters and Advance Aircraft Directorate stated that 10 out of the 12 aircraft were ready for delivery while 2 were undergoing modification and integration to NAF specific operational configuration.

    He went on to state that 6 of the aircraft are scheduled to arrive in Nigeria in July 2021 while the remaining 6 will be delivered before the end of October 2021.

    The NASS team was assured that the aircraft, expected to play critical roles in the fight against insurgency and criminality, would be delivered as planned.

    Responding, Senator Michael Nnachi commended EDSI for the quality of work on the NAF A-29 Super Tucano.

    He however queried the long duration of time from the date of full payment to expected date of delivery, which he estimated to be between 3 to 4 years.

    In response, the Col Ford informed the team that the long duration was due to the challenges of configuring the aircraft to fit NAF’s required specifications.

    The visiting team which also included Honourables Babajimi Benson, Shehu Koko, Abubakar Maki and Honourable Abass Adigun were received on arrival at Jacksonville, Florida by the Nigerian Defence Attaché to the USA, Air Commodore Jibrin Usman, the Lead Foreign Liaison Officer on the A-29, Air Vice Marshal Sule Lawal and senior management staff EDSI.

    Earlier, the US had blocked Nigeria from acquiring the Super Tucano aircraft from Brazil in November 2016 because of allegations of human rights violations against the Nigerian military.