By LAWANI MIKAIRU & DANIEL ETEGHE

Acting Director General of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA, Engr. Benedict Adeyileka has revealed that the investigations into the IRS plane crash will be handled by the civil aviation authority of Niger Republic.

He has also  tasked the management of AZMAN Air Services Limited to ensure safety at all times as well as protect and make passengers comfortable during its flight operations.
Engr Adeyileka made this disclosure at the NCAA annex, Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos while presenting the Airline Operators Certificate ,AOC, to AZMAN Air.

He said the investigation into the IRS plane crash was being  handled by Niger Republic noting that the Accident Investigation and Prevention Bureau ,AIPB, and the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA, would assist  in the course of the investigation.

According to him “As soon as we have an update on the pilot, we will let you know. The investigation is being  handled by the Niger Republic because it is within their territory, the NCAA and the AIPB are offering assistance, so we have a team together and we are trying to contact them so that we can work together but the most important thing to note is that it was not within Nigeria territory”

Meanwhile, Engr. Adeyileka  told AZMAN Air that safety was one of the major factors  every airline must adhered to. He said getting the AOC was not the major challenge stressing that the challenge comes during the course of flight operations. He urged  the management of AZMAN Air to always treat their passengers with care.

The Acting NCAA DG further said that the regulatory authority would work with the airline as  partner in order to ensure safe skies noting that if there was a delay, AZMAN AIr should manage the situation carefully by making sure that the passengers are well catered for and the reason for the delay or cancellation  adequately explained to them.  He said “Having a delay or cancellation is not the problem, it is how you manage it.

If it happens ensure that your passengers are well treated and if you can manage that, you are good. If there is a technical fault, delay the flight and at the same time treat the passengers well because it affect safety.
Each time you fight with your passengers, you put safety at risk” He also advised AZMAN Air to  comply with all the regulations of NCAA as falling to do so would attract serious sanction.

Also speaking, President of AZMAN Air Services Limited,  Alhaji Abdulmunaf Yunusa said that the management of the airline was grateful to NCAA for granting  AOC to it. He also said  the airline would start its flight operation on Thursday, 15th May 2014, with two Beoing 737 classic adding that their in flight services was very good as passengers will be treated with care.