''Crashed Associated Airline Plane Was On A Test Flight'' - Senator

Senator Eyinnaya Abaribe, on Tuesday, disclosed that the report on the  Associated Airline aircraft, which was submitted to the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), was forged.

Also speaking at the session, Senator Smart Adeyemi said the ill-fated aircraft was on a test flight and was, by law, not expected to carry passengers, except the pilot and engineers.

 “I was in Lagos after the crash and, in the course of my stay, I interacted with my colleagues in the media and I was surprised to gather that the plane crashed as a result of corruption.

“I gathered that the plane was meant to be on a test flight and, as such, it was to shuttle between Lagos and Akure without carrying passengers, except the pilot and engineers. But someone thought it wise to pick passengers to make quick business.

“There is no amount of money that can help if we don’t tackle corruption. We need to know who bought the aircraft and who is managing it.

“The ongoing renovation at the airports is good, but the problem is management and regulation. The truth is that there is corruption in the aviation industry.

“We must be courageous enough to speak the truth. Our chambers would do the county good to unravel the owners of the Associated Airline,” he said.