NIGERIA MASTERWEB DAILY NEWS

*Jos Airport Incident: Arik Air Pilot Blames Self

By Nosa Osula-Aituamen

The pilot of Arik Airlines who crashed into a parked C-130 aircraft belonging to the Nigerian Airforce at the Jos Airport last week Saturday, 14th July, 2012 has accepted full responsibility for the incident. According to investigation conducted by the Accident Investigation Bureau, AIB, the pilot of the aircraft blamed the mishap on his inability to see the parked aircraft because the rain blocked his view from the window of the cockpit.

In a statement signed by the Commissioner, AIB, Captain Usman Muktar, the Aircraft was cleared to taxi to runway 10, during taxi the winglet of the Arik Air Boeing-737 hit the stationary C-130, embedded a portion of its severed winglet on the structure of the C-130. ( Continues below….. )

Photo Above: A landing Arik Plane

He said no injuries was recorded on any of the passengers on the Arik Airplane, adding that the said aircraft was airworthy, manufactured in 2001 by Boeing and certified to fly.

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The Report reads thus -

On the 14th of July, 2012, Arik Air 201, on a scheduled passenger flight touched down in Jos at 1313 hrs and parked at 1320hrs. The Jos bound passengers disembarked.

Lagos bound passengers embarked and the aircraft taxied out at 1335hrs. The Aircraft was cleared to taxi to runway 10. During taxi to the runway, in rain, the aircraft winglet hit the wing of a parked C-130 aircraft which was at the fourth parking slot during the impact, a portion of the winglet of Arik Aircraft was left embedded in the wing structure of the C-130 aircraft. There was damage to both aircraft, and the time of this incident was 1340hrs.

The C-130 aircraft was duly authorized to park at that position. There were no injuries recorded.

The aircraft was manufactured by Boeing in 2001. Initial findings

1. The winglet of the Arik Air B-737 hit the stationary C-130, embedded a portion of its severed winglet on the structure of the C-130. 2. The C-130, NAF-197 belongs to Nigeria Airforce. 3. The pilots were certified to fly the Aircraft. 4. There were no injuries recorded. 5. It was raining at the time of the incident. 6. The Arik Air Pilot had an entry point into Runway 10 opposite where he was parked, but decided to use the other entry. 7. The captain of Arik Air aircraft confirmed that when he tried to look out, rain had covered his window. 8. The Arik Air Captain accepted responsibility for the incident. 9. The Apron markings were visible.

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Photo Above: An Airborne Plane

Nosa Osula-Aituamen (Aviationreport)

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