NAF attributes Ondo crash count discrepancy to crew-counting confusion

The Nigerian Air Force says confusion over how crew members were counted caused the difference between the initial report of 32 people aboard its crashed aircraft in Ondo State and its subsequent official total of 25.

Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame attributed the discrepancy to differing uses of the phrase “souls on board” in civil and military aviation, according to Vanguard.

Ejodame said seven crew-qualified personnel were included in the total of 25, not additional to it. Five were serving as the active crew, while the other two were travelling as passengers.

The Air Force’s official breakdown remains five crew members and 20 passengers. Its explanation addresses the earlier figure announced by Aviation and Aerospace Development Minister Festus Keyamo, who had given a total of 32, comprising 25 passengers and seven crew members.

NaijaTrend reported the Air Force’s list of 25 people here.

The ATR 42 aircraft, NAF 931, crashed in the Igbokoda area of Ilaje Local Government Area while flying from Benin, Edo State, to Lagos. The wreckage was found in a swamp near a naval base, and the Air Force said no survivor had been found.

Ejodame said the Chief of the Air Staff had ordered a comprehensive investigation and that a board or committee had been constituted. He said findings would be communicated by the appropriate body after its preliminary report was concluded.

Source: Vanguard