The Accident Investigation Bureau (AIB) has described as incorrect, the accusation levelled against the organisation by  members of the upper legislature, which alleged it had been  keeping the reports of investigation into past air crashes in the country.

The  Senate, had last week Tuesday, condemned the AIB for keeping the reports of investigation into air crashes in the country from the public.

The upper chamber had subsequently mandated its Committee on Aviation to thoroughly investigate the remote and immediate causes of the trend and to report its findings to the Senate within two weeks.

A distinguished senator that raised the matter before the Senate, alluded to the reports on Sosoliso crash of 2005, Bellview crash of 2005, ADC crash of 2006 and DANA crash of 2012, as major reports that were yet to be in the public domain.

In its reaction, the AIB which stated that it held the Senate and the distinguished senators in high esteem, added that it would not join issues with the premier legislative arm.

 It, however, declared that: “The AIB is saddened by this unjustified vilification of the Bureau on the floor of the senate as the allegation was mostly incorrect.”

According to the Bureau, the Senate was misinformed given the obvious fact that as of the time the debate was going on in the Senate, the reports were on the Bureau’s website (aib.gov.ng) and just a click away from any interested member of the public.

“For record purpose, Sosoliso accident report, which had been released since 2006 and published  in the national newspapers, has been on the Bureau’s website for several years now. Bellview and ADC crash reports have been published and on our website since 2012 while DANA’s preliminary report had been published since July 2012. Other outstanding accident reports are being diligently pursued.

“A little research including a check on our website or the aviation committee of the Senate would have made this debate unnecessary. Happily, the Senate Committee on Aviation is aware of the diligence and the passion with which AIB has been pursuing the delivery of its mandate. The committee is also not unaware of the challenges facing the Bureau, especially with funding.

“It is, however, pertinent to let the public be aware that aircraft accident investigation, contrary to public expectation takes a little time as it is a complex and thorough exercise. The purpose of accident investigation is to determine facts relating to an accident and prevent future reoccurrence of similar occurrence by making safety recommendations. This demands thoroughness and leaves no room for assumption.”

While insisting that some of the investigations it conducted had led to significant safety improvements in the global aviation community, AIB said: “Examples of these are two Alert Service Bulletins by Sikorsky, a helicopter manufacturer following our preliminary investigations into the recent Bristow crash in Oworonshoki, Lagos and a Mandatory Service Bulletin by Diamond Aircraft Manufacturer on  a serious incident involving Diamond  DA 42 with registration number 5N-BKS that occurred in Benin in July 2012. These have contributed to preventing further accidents of similar nature and the attendant loss of lives.”