Crashed Associated Airlines plane Engines Were Not Technically Fit Before Take-off - FG

Preliminary readout and analysis by the Accident Investigation Bureau on the Associated Airlines plane that crashed in Lagos on Thursday last week have revealed that the aircraft’s flaps and right engine were not technically fit before take-off.

The bureau said the crew, prior to departure, expressed some concerns about the plane.


Despite the concerns, the crew still flew the aircraft, which was conveying the corpse of the former governor of Ondo State, Dr. Olusegun Agagu. The plane eventually crashed and killed over 15 persons.


The Commissioner/Chief Executive Officer, AIB, Capt. Muhtar Usman, who spoke at the headquarters of the bureau in Abuja on Friday, said, “The Flight Data Recorder contains several engine related parameters which the AIB is studying. At this point, we can state that the right engine appears to be producing considerable less thrust than the left engine.

“A warning configuration setting suggests that the flaps were not in the correct position for take-off and there is some evidence that the crew may have chosen not to use the flaps for take-off.”