.Preliminary report expected within 30 days,
By Chinelo Obogo
The Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) has commenced an on-site investigation into the crash-landing of a Diamond training aircraft operated by the Aviation Training School. The incident occurred on May 23, 2025, at approximately 17:28 local time during a simulated instrument approach on Runway 05 at General Tunde Idiagbon International airport, Ilorin.
NSIB Director General, Captain Alex Badeh Jr., visited the crash site on Saturday to oversee the preliminary investigation and confirmed the recovery of the aircraft’s data card, which he said is now being analysed at the NSIB’s transport safety laboratory in Abuja.
“Our investigators are on the ground and have begun work in earnest. The damaged aircraft is positioned on the left side of the runway, and recovery operations are nearly complete. A team of specialists will remain to finalize critical measurements before returning to Abuja,” Badeh said.
A preliminary report is expected within 30 days, with findings aimed at enhancing aviation safety measures. Captain Badeh Jr. reiterated the NSIB’s commitment to transparency, stating, “Our job is to determine what happened, to whom it happened, how it happened, and most importantly, how to prevent it from happening again.”
The two occupants of the aircraft were evacuated to a medical facility and are in stable condition. “They are conscious, coherent, and receiving appropriate medical care,” Badeh confirmed, adding that one had undergone an MRI scan.