Air chief calls for measures to prevent air crashes

The Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Hasan Abubakar, has called for the implementation of suitable measures to curb the accident chain in the service.

This comes a day after the Nigerian Air Force recorded a drone crash in Kaduna State.

The drone crash marks the 19th air mishap recorded by the Air Force since 2015.

The frequent crashes, resulting in the loss of personnel have raised concerns about the safety standards of the Nigerian Air Force.

According to a statement on Tuesday by NAF’s spokesperson, AVM. Edward Gabkwet, the Air Chief, during the 2024 NAF Safety Review Board meeting said the actions and inactions of personnel would help eradicate air mishaps in the service.

The statement partly read, “The Chief of the Air Staff stated that the actions or inactions of all Nigerian Air Force personnel will help to either propel or break the accident chain sometimes experienced in the course of NAF activities or operations.

“He also called for the emplacement of appropriate actions to break the accident chain to enshrine a good safety culture that transcends all levels in the NAF.”

Abubakar said accidents occur as a result of the service activities, noting that the Air Force can’t treat the matter with levity.

“While noting that accidents are the results of a sequence of events, beginning with deliberate decisions taken, he also stated that the NAF cannot afford to pay lip service to issues relating to safety and called for determination of all personnel to improve safety in the various areas units,” the statement added.

Abubakar also emphasised the need to improve the service’s safety culture following the Federal Government’s decision to acquire modern aircraft for the service.

“The CAS also stated that more interesting and auspicious days lie ahead for the NAF given the government’s commitment to equipping the NAF with modern platforms. The need for a proactive and enhanced safety culture, he continued, is thus critical in ensuring that their usage is maximized.”

He then assured that the NAF would intensify efforts to enhance safety in the NAF as it continues its transformation into, “an agile and resilient force that effectively meets the airpower demands of national security in all operational environments.”

Earlier, the Chief of Standards and Evaluation, Air Vice Marshal Micheal Onyebashi revealed the NAF has commenced the introduction of safety education at all NAF entry points and training institutions.

He then noted that with the reactivation of NAF platforms as well as the induction of additional platforms, the need for the SRB, commands and units to work assiduously to ensure that safety standards are maintained in all NAF activities is imperative.

He then reminded the Board of its responsibility to proffer strategies and ideas that would enable the NAF to experience continuous improvement of safety in all its operations.