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Tag: AIB

  • AIB, UNILAG partner on material laboratory usage

    The Accident Investigation Bureau (AIB) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the University of Lagos (UNILAG) on the use of its metallurgical laboratory at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport (NAIA), Abuja.

    AIB Commissioner, Mr. Akin Olateru, at the signing of the agreement at the varsity’s Senate Building, said the lab would be of benefit to Nigerians, students of higher institutions of learning and industries.

    Olateru said the lab would save Nigeria huge capital flights, which would have been expended on air tickets, hotels and others by researchers, stressing that collaboration with organisations would further enhance one another’s capabilities.

    He explained that the agency had written to 12 higher institutions of learning on collaboration on the use of the facility, but decried that only three universities – University of Ilorin, UNILAG and Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka replied.

    He noted that the United States’ National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) partnered public and private organisations and wondered why same could not be done here.

    He said: “I believe we can make this country great with collaborations. We need collaborations like this to help us add values to the country. We actually wrote to 12 universities, but only three responded to our letters, which is very unfortunate.

    “This is why I want to thank your leadership for the signing of this MoU because it shows the efforts you are putting in place to increase the knowledge base of this great institution of learning.”

    He, however, expressed satisfaction with the responses of the three universities, adding that there still room for any institution willing to partner it.

    He noted that the management would not compel any organisation or institution to collaborate with it on the use of the equipment.

    UNILAG Vice Chancellor, Prof. Oluwatoyin Ogundipe explained that university education is about research.

    He declared that UNILAG was  research-oriented, saying the institution collaborates with other universities and institutions across the country and beyond.

    He said varsity students had been taking the centrestage in the country while at the international level, they have been making great impacts.

    Ogundipe said: ‘The direction of research now is about collaborations and networking. I am glad that we are starting this on a good note. I want to assure you that we will make maximum use of this with our students. Our intention is to make our students known locally and visible at the global stage and I am happy we are achieving that so far. On our own, we will give this collaboration the 100 per cent support it deserves.”

  • AIB attributes poor crew resource management as cause of crash

    ……Says pilot should have aborted take – off

    …….Fingers poor oversight duties by NCAA

     

    Accident Investigation Bureau (AIB) on Wednesday attributed poor co- ordination between the two pilots that operated the ill – fated Associated Aviation October 3, 2013 as the cause of the crash saying the crew failed to implement principles of crew resource management.
    The AIB, while releasing the final accident report said the pilots should have aborted take – off the aircraft following indications from the aircraft that some components were not properly activated.
    Besides, the failings of the crew, the AIB also fingered poor regulatory oversight duties by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority ( NCAA) as another causal factor for the crash.

    Speaking yesterday at a briefing in Lagos , AIB , Commissioner and Chief Executive Officer, Akin Olateru apologized for the delay in the release of the accidents reports saying probe of air accidents is not to indict any agency but to avoid reoccurrence.
    Olateru also fingered poor company as part of the cause of the crash.
    The Associated Aviation Embraer 120 aircraft with 20 passengers on board was conveying the remains of former Ondo State Governor, Chief Olusegun Agagu for burial in Akure.

    Besides, the Associated Aviation crash report, the AIB also released five final reports involving Bristow Helicopters , NCAT trainer aircraft , Westlink Aviation and NAHCO loader and AeroContractors Aircraft .
    Olateru said since January 2017 the AIB, has released 16 accident reports.
    The Accident Investigation Bureau said the six final accident and serious incident reports occurred in the Nigeria aviation industry between 2009 and 2014.

    Among the six reports released were two accidents and four serious incidents.

    Another accident report released was that of Westlink Airlines Limited Piper Aztec 23-250 aircraft with the registration number 5N-BGZ, which occurred at Matseri Village,Bunza Local Government Area of Kebbi State on August 11, 2014.

    The serious incidents were Aero Contractor’s DHC-8-400 aircraft incident with registration 5N-BPT, with the Nigerian Aviation Handling Company (NAHCO) baggage loader on April 29, 2014 and another incident involving two Bristow Helicopters aircraft, Bell 412 helicopters with Registration numbers 5N-BGS, and 5N-BDD, at the Addax Base Helipad, Calabar, Cross River State, Nigeria on 12th November, 2009.

    Also covered were the serious incidents involving two aircraft belonging to Nigerian College of Aviation Technology (NCAT). They were the Tampico Club TB9 with the registration number 5N-CBE, which serious incident occurred at Zaria Aerodrome, Kaduna State on October 4, 2012 and another serious incident involving Tampico TB–9 Aircraft with registration number 5N-CBI that occurred at the same Zaria Aerodrome on May 23, 2012.

    The report on the Associated crash cited as its causal factor the decision of the crew to continue the take-off despite the abnormal number two Propeller indication warning and the low altitude stall as a result of low thrust at start of roll for take-off from number two engine caused by an undetermined malfunction of the propeller control unit.

    On the contributory factor, the AIB’s release fingered the aircraft being rotated before attaining Vector One the decision to continue the take-off with flap configuration warning and auto-feather warning at low speed, poor professional conduct of the flight crew, inadequate application of Crew Resource Management (CRM) principles, poor company culture and inadequate regulatory oversight.

    AIB released four safety recommendations on the crash, were all directed at NCAA.

    AIB called on NCAA to enhance the enforcement of the regulations with regards to the implementation of operators approved personnel training programme and intensification of its safety oversight function on the airline to ensure that flight operations were carried out in accordance with approved operations manuals in line with the provisions of Nigeria Civil Aviation Regulations (NCARs).

    Others were improved safety oversight on the affected carrier to ensure staff welfare issues, and that remunerations were settled promptly and the establishment of Confidential Voluntary Reporting System, which must be implemented in line with the State Safety Program.

    On the two Bristow Helicopters serious incidents at the Addax Base Helipad, Calabar in Cross River State on November 12, 2009, like Associated Airways, the bureau also made four safety recommendations.

    AIB recommended that the regulatory agency should ensure that Calabar Base Helipad Manual of APDNL be reviewed to comply with Nigeria Civil Aviation Regulations (NCARs), APDNL should ensure that helicopters are properly parked in designated locations, APDNL should ensure that Helicopter Landing Officers (HLOs) are always present during aircraft operations and the agency should ensure that helicopter flight operations at the Helipad were done in accordance with Nig. CARs.

    AIB in the report, however, stated that NCAA responded to the safety recommendations of the bureau and implemented them.

    On the Aero Contractors incident with NAHCO aviance baggage loader vehicle fleet L3-23 and a parked Bombardier DHC-8-400 aircraft of Aero Contractors,

    AIB in its report said the NAHCO personnel who operated the baggage loader vehicle was neither employed to operate the vehicle, nor was he authorised to do so.

    The report observed that the rostered driver of the baggage loader vehicle was not available at the time of the occurrence and cited the non-adherence to NAHCO Safe Operating Procedures by the Ramp manager as one of the contributory factors to the incident.

    It also made four safety recommendations to NCAA, which included ‘strict adherence to NAHCO’s Standard Operating Procedures’ and ‘Air Operators’ Certificate (AOC) holders should determine the minimum number of personnel for airline ground handling operations to be deployed for each aircraft type.’

    On the Westlink Airlines’ Piper Aztec 23-250 aircraft accident, AIB identified inadequate visual lookout and failure to avoid the obstacle by the pilots as the only causal factor responsible for the accident.

    The contributory factors included less than adequate planning and preparation for the flight, inadequate pilot training and experience on agricultural aerial work and limited regulatory guidance and oversight on agricultural operations.

    It also made four safety recommendations to NCAA in its report.

    The report also included two NCAT serious incidents that occurred on May 23, 2012 and October 4, 2012 in Kaduna State, which generated eight safety recommendations.

    Olateru said : ” With 66 safety recommendations out of 147 and 16 reports out of 35 recorded from January 2017 to date, we have achieved 45 percent on our Safety Recommendation and 46 percent on publication of the accident and serious incident report.

    “To ensure that our recommendations are effective and are getting the desired results and as you may be aware, we recently inaugurated a committee to review all safety recommendations issued by the Bureau since inception to measure the effectiveness of the safety recommendation. We look to publish the report of the exercise shortly.

    “Reaching a total of 16 accident and serious incident reports in the last 15 months could only be made possible by the tremendous effort of our member of staff who continuously have sleepless night in ensuring that we clear the backlog, the support of the supervisory ministry and particularly the Minister.

    ” Accident investigation and reporting is not an easy task especially when there are several laws/procedures/regulations that govern each investigation. When there is an occurrence, it is important to investigate and publish the findings of the occurrence promptly for avoidance and prevention.

    As we work assiduously to clear the backlog of reports, we are equally ensuring that new occurrences are resolved promptly. “

  • Nigerian, Ghanaian authorities investigating Arik Air serious incident, says AIB

    Nigerian, Ghanaian authorities investigating Arik Air serious incident, says AIB

    Nigeria’s Accident Investigation Bureau (AIB) and the Ghanaian authorities have commenced investigation into a serious incident on Arik Air Flight W3304 which occurred on March 6, 2018.

    The disclosure was made yesterday by Commissioner, AIB, Akin Olateru, an aircraft engineer in a statement.

    He confirmed that the indeed occurred and classified it as ‘serious incident’ in accordance with the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) Annex 13.

    Olateru thanked the concerned passenger(s) that reported the occurrence on social media, for being socially conscious citizen(s), and assured him/them and the flying public alike, that the institutions lawfully charged with the responsibility of investigating accidents and serious incidents by both countries (Nigeria and Ghana) are already conducting investigation

    on this serious incident, in accordance with strict ICAO Annex 13 on accident and serious investigation.

    As a well-informed society, he said AIB appreciates the contribution of Nigerians working as responsible partners with AIB to ensure accidents are promptly reported and investigated.

    His words, “We would appeal that Nigerians adopt the direct approach of reporting air accidents and serious incidents by downloading the AIB APPhttp://www.aib.gov.ng/news-events/aib-nigeria-mobile-application-how-to-download-the-app/  to their phones and tablets so that accidents and serious incidents can be promptly notified to the appropriate quarters in good time rather than resorting to social media public space, which often times, leaves room for speculations, misrepresentation and misinformation that do not support the global objective of safety but creates an unreasonable apprehension of fear in the public space”.

  • AIB releases preliminary reports involving DANA, Delta , Nestor Oil aircraft

    AIB releases preliminary reports involving DANA, Delta , Nestor Oil aircraft

    THE Accident Investigation Bureau (AIB) has released preliminary reports for the on-going investigation into the serious incidents involving Delta Air Airbus A330-223 aircraft with registration N858NW, which occurred after take-off from Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos on February  13, 2018.

    The bureau also released the preliminary reports on the accident involving the DANA Air MD – 83 marked 5N-SRI that overran the runway at the Port Harcourt International Airport on March 5,2018 and the accident involving Gulfstream G200 aircraft belonging to Nestor Oil with registration number 5N-BTF, which occurred at Nnamdi Azikiwe  International Airport, Abuja on January 25, 2018.

    According to AIB, the reports contain factual information on the three occurrences and not their probable causes as investigations are still ongoing.

    They include information gathered from witnesses’ statements and  preliminary inspection of the aircraft and the accident sites.

    AIB Commissioner Akin Olateru, while commenting on the release of the reports, reiterated the agency’s commitment to release reports promptly to enhance safety.

    “We are seriously committed to releasing investigation reports on time. This is one way to ensure that such occurrences are prevented from repeating themselves and conform with the purpose of accident investigation.”

    According to the report, the Delta A330-223 aircraft was on a schedule flight with 221 passengers and 13 crew on board , when it made an air return few minutes after take-off following a fire warning on one of the engines.

    The aircraft landed at about 2259hrs and stopped on runway 18R.

    The Airport Rescue and Fire Fighting Services (ARFFS) reported observing fire on one of engines and extinguished it. Passengers were evacuated using the emergency slides on the right side of the aircraft. One passenger sustained serious injury. Eleven suffered minor injuries.

    It reads: “Initial Findings by AIB indicated that the flight crew were certified and qualified to conduct the flight in accordance with applicable FAA regulations. Number One engine fire warning came on about a minute after take-off, while the crew at 2252.25hrs contacted ATC and declared emergency.

    “The report stated that the aircraft landed at about 2259hrs and stopped on runway 18R, where the Airport Rescue and Fire Fighting Service first reported observing smoke, and fire on the Number One engine.

    “AIB also reported that there was evidence of fire within the engine cowling, even as the two fire extinguishers on the engine were discharged.

    “A commotion was reported onboard the aircraft before the evacuation.

    “Investigation is still ongoing and further investigative actions may include engine examination, material testing for the fuel manifolds, engine oil and hydraulic lines, inspection of fuel manifolds for crack and inspection of fuel nozzle braze joints for leaks.”

    On  Dana Air MD-83, the report indicated that it took off from Abuja and had an uneventful flight to Port Harcourt  and was cleared to land by the Air Traffic Control.

    It reads: “The crew reported that the runway had experienced recent rain before arrival and after touch down, looked and felt contaminated with flood of water that did not drain well.

    “Other findings include the fact that after the aircraft came to a complete stop, emergency evacuation was carried out using only the left forward main door and the escape slide on this door did not deploy just as the Public Address System did not work.

    “The Airport Rescue and Fire Fighting Service arrived during the evacuation and all persons onboard were evacuated unhurt.”

    According to AIB, it was notified about the accident involving Nestor Oil Gulf Stream 200 aircraft by Abuja Air Traffic Control (ATC) on Thursday January 25, 2018.

    The aircraft was operating a chartered flight service to Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja (DNAA) with  four passengers and three crew onboard.

     

  • AIB releases preliminary reports on DANA, mishap, others

    AIB releases preliminary reports on DANA, mishap, others

    The Accident Investigation Bureau (AIB) has released preliminary reports for on-going investigation into the incidents involving Delta Air Airbus A330-223 aircraft with registration N858NW, which occurred after take-off from Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos on February 13, 2018.

    The Bureau also released the preliminary reports on the accident that involved the DANA Air MD – 83 marked 5N-SRI. It overran the runway at the Port Harcourt International Airport on February 20,2018. Also released was the report of the accident that involved Gulfstream G200 aircraft belonging to Nestor Oil with registration number 5N-BT. It occurred at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja on January 25, 2018.

    According to AIB, the reports contain factual information on the three occurrences and not their probable causes as investigations are still ongoing.

    They include information gathered from witness statements and a preliminary inspection of the aircraft and the accident site.

    The Commissioner of AIB, Akin Olateru, while commenting on the release of the reports reteirated the commitment of AIB to release reports promptly to enhance safety.

    “We are seriously committed to releasing investigation reports on time. This is one way to ensure that such occurrences are prevented from repeating themselves and conform with the purpose of accident investigation.”

    According to the report, the Delta A330-223 aircraft was on a schedule flight with 221 passengers and 13 crew on board, when it made an air return few minutes after take-off following a fire warning on one of the engines.

    The aircraft landed at about 2259hrs and stopped on runway 18R.

    The Airport Rescue and Fire Fighting Services (ARFFS) reported observing fire on one of engines and extinguished it. Passengers were evacuated using the emergency slides on the right side of the aircraft.

     

    One passenger sustained serious injury while 11 suffered minor injuries.

    It reads: “Initial Findings by AIB indicated that the flight crew were certified and qualified to conduct the flight in accordance with applicable FAA regulations, Number One engine fire warning came on about a minute after take-off, while the crew at 2252.25hrs contacted ATC and declared emergency.

    “The report stated that the aircraft landed at about 2259hrs and stopped on runway 18R, where the Airport Rescue and Fire Fighting Service first reported observing smoke, and fire on the Number One engine.

    “AIB also reported that there was evidence of fire within the engine cowling even as the two fire extinguishers on the engine were discharged.

    “A commotion was reported onboard the aircraft before the evacuation.

    “Investigation is still ongoing and further investigative actions may include engine examination, material testing for the fuel manifolds, engine oil and hydraulic lines, inspection of fuel manifolds for crack and inspection of fuel nozzle braze joints for leaks.”

    On Dana Air MD-83, the report indicated that it took off from Abuja had an uneventful flight to Port Harcourt and was cleared to land by the Air Traffic Control.

    It reads: ”The crew reported that the runway had experienced recent rain before arrival and after touch down looked and felt contaminated with flood of water that did not drain well.

    “Other findings include the fact that after the aircraft came to a complete stop, emergency evacuation was carried out using only the left forward main door and the escape slide on this door did not deploy just as the Public Address System did not work.

    “The Airport Rescue and Fire Fighting Service arrived during the evacuation and all persons onboard were evacuated unhurt.”

    According to AIB, it was notified about the Nestor Oil Gulf Stream 200 aircraft by Abuja Air Traffic Control (ATC) on Thursday January 25, 2018 of the accident .

    The aircraft was operating a chartered flight service to Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport; Abuja (DNAA) with  four passengers and three crew onboard.

    It reads: ”The departure, cruise and approach to Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport were uneventful.

    “Subsequently, 5N-BTF was cleared to land runway 22. The reported wind by the tower was 070°/07knots. At 1518hrs, the aircraft landed slightly left of the runway centre line, skidding left to right until eventually the aircraft finally swivel on the right shoulder of the runway where it came to a complete stop on a Magnetic Heading of 160o with the right main landing gear strut detached from its main attachment point.

    “ All persons on board disembarked unhurt. “

  • AIB begins investigation into DANA Air incident

    AIB begins investigation into DANA Air incident

    The Accident Investigation Bureau, AIB has commenced investigation into the Dana Air incident at the Port- Harcourt Airport on Tuesday February 20.

    The spokesman of AIB, Tunji Oketumbi said a team from the Commission led by the director of operations of AIB, Capt, Dayyabu Danraka is already on ground in port Harcourt for the investigation into the incident.

    The team is expected to unravel the remote and immediate cause of the incident and make recommendations to forestall future occurrence.

    The commencement of the investigation followed the official report of the incident by the Airline to AIB.

    The Dana incidence is coming barely a week after Delta Airline also had serious incident and had to make an air return to the Murtala Muhammed Airport for an emergency landing.

    It will be recalled that a Dana aircraft with registration number 9J0363, flying from Abuja to Port Harcourt airport skidded off the runway at the Port Harcourt International Airport Tuesday February 20 2018.

    The airline attributed the incident to bad weather situation and torrential rain at the time of landing.

    Meanwhile no casualty was recorded as all passengers and crew disembarked safely.

  • Delta Airlines apologises to AIB on failure to report ‘air return’ 

    Delta Airlines apologises to AIB on failure to report ‘air return’ 

    Delta Airlines yesterday in Lagos apologised to Accident Investigation Bureau (AIB) for its failure to notify the agency of the emergency landing of its Airbus 330-200 aircraft on Tuesday night.

    AIB spokesman Tunji Oketumbi made this known yesterday.

    The Atlanta-bound Delta Flight 55, which departed Lagos on Tuesday night, returned several minutes later  to  Murtala  Muhammed  International Airport, following an issue with one of the Airbus 330-200’s two engines.

    Leading a team of the airline officials, including the technical crew of the flight and the airlines Lagos Airport Station Manager to the Ikeja head office of the bureau around 5p.m., Delta Airlines Manager, Air Safety Investigation Miss Shannon Masters expressed the airline’s regret for the oversight.

    She said it was not intentional.

    Miss Masters said: “We sincerely apologised for the error and we promise to cooperate with AIB in the investigation of this occurrence.”

    The Commissioner/CEO of AIB, Akin Olateru, an engineer, while accepting Delta’s apology, said AIB had already began investigation into the serious incident and welcome the airline’s cooperation.

    “We look forward to receiving cooperation from Delta Airlines as we work to determine the cause of this serious incident in the interest of safety.”

    The accident investigation body had frowned at the American carrier’s failure to notify it of the incident in line with Nigerian air safety regulations and international practice.

    The airline was believed to have notified the United States National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) of the occurrence immediately in line with the U.S. laws.

    Nigeria, as the state of occurrence under the International Civil Aviation organisation (ICAO) Annex 13, is responsible for investigating any aircraft occurrences within her airspace.

    The state of registry of the aircraft and the airline may serve as observers.

  • Emergency landing: Delta Airlines apologizes to AIB, visits agency in Lagos

    Emergency landing: Delta Airlines apologizes to AIB, visits agency in Lagos

    Delta Airlines on Thursday apologised to the Accident Investigation Bureau (AIB) over its failure to notify the agency on the emergency landing of its Airbus 330-200 aircraft on Tuesday night.

    The spokesman of AIB, Tunji Oketumbi disclosed this to journalists in Lagos.

    The Atlanta- bound Delta Flight 55 which left the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos on Tuesday night returned to the airport several minutes later following a problem with one of its two engines.

    Leading a team of the airline officials including the flight’s technical crew and the airlines Lagos Airport Station Manager to the Ikeja head office of the Bureau at about 5:00 p.m. local time, Miss Shannon Masters, Manager, Air Safety Investigation, expressed the airline’s regret for the oversight, stressing that it was not intentional.

    She said: “We sincerely apologised for the error and we promise to cooperate with AIB in the investigation of this occurrence.”

    The Commissioner/CEO of AIB, Akin Olateru, while accepting Delta Airline’s apology, said AIB had already commenced investigation into the serious incident and welcomed the airline’s cooperation.

    “We look forward to receiving cooperation from Delta Airlines as we work to determine the cause of this serious incident in the interest of safety,“ he said.

     

     

  • AIB ‘detains’ airlines’ crew

    AIB ‘detains’ airlines’ crew

    THE Accident Investigation Bureau (AIB) said yesterday that the Delta Airlines crew that flew the Airbus 330 – 200, which engine caught fire mid-air,  cannot leave the country until they obtain an incident statement from them.

    AIB Commissioner and Chief Executive Officer Akin Olatetu, at a news briefing in Lagos, said the airline’s flight engineers cannot carry out any repairs on the plane because it has become an equipment for investigation.

    He said the AIB took step as part of its obligations to protect the aircraft under investigation.

    Olateru said Delta Airlines was yet to officially report the incident to the AIB, a development he noted contravenes Nigerian laws.

    According to the AIB boss, his agency and Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) were collaborating on how to carry out comprehensive investigations into the cause of the engine fire.

    He berated Delta Airlines for failing to notify the AIB about the incident as the country of occurrence, in line with the regulations of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO).

    Olateru said: “When you have this kind of thing, we take possession of the aircraft and nobody goes near it. The aircraft is under safety investigation. That is what is required by law. But until they make a formal report, then we are expecting them.

    “I was made to understand they have appointed two investigators to work with us and they should be arriving this afternoon.

    “United States (U.S.) NTSB notified us that Delta has appointed two investigators to join us and NTSB is nominating one person. Their representative too will be joining to assist us on this investigation.”

    He added: “There is no competition or rivalry. For your information, I was notified by the DG of NCAA of the incident. This afternoon, we got information that their engineers want to work on the aeroplane and we made it clear to them that it is a no no. We told them that nobody should go near the aircraft.

    “The best we can do is to safeguard it. Security people are guarding the aircraft.”

    Olateru said the AIB has a responsibility to report the incident to ICAO.

    “We cannot fulfil our own obligation because this incident occurrence has not been reported to us officially by the operator.

    I am in contact with my counterpart in the U.S., Mr. Dennis Jones, MD of NTSB. He agreed with me and he will make sure that Delta do the needful. So, we are expecting.”

  • AIB detains Delta Airlines crew over aircraft fire

    Nigeria’s Accident Investigation Bureau (AIB) said on Wednesday that crew of Delta Airlines Airbus 330 – 200 that caught fire mid -air after taking off from the Murtala Mohammed International Airport in Lagos cannot leave the country until they obtain incident statement.

    AIB’s Commissioner and Chief Executive Officer, Akin Olateru disclosed this at a press briefing in Lagos.

    Olateru said the airline’s flight engineers cannot carry out any repairs on the aircraft because it has become the subject of investigation.

    He said the AIB is taking the step as part of its obligations to protect the aircraft under investigation.

    Olateru said Delta Airlines has not officially report the incident to the AIB, a development that contravenes Nigerian laws.

    He said the AIB and Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) were collaborating on how to carry out comprehensive investigations into the cause of the aircraft engine fire.

    He berated the airline for failing to notify the AIB on the incident as the country of occurrence in line with the regulations of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO).

    Olateru said: “When you have this kind of thing, we take possession of the aircraft and nobody goes near it. The aircraft is under safety investigation. That is what is required by law but until they make a formal report, then we are expecting them.

    “I was made to understand they have appointed two investigators to work with us and they should be arriving this afternoon, I was made to understand.

    “US NTSB notified us that Delta has appointed two investigators to join us and NTSB is nominating one person. Their representative too will be joining to assist us on this investigation.

    “There is no competition or rivalry. For your information, I was notified by the DG of NCAA on the incident.”