The bureau, at the international day for the commemoration of air crash victims and their families in Abuja, said the policy, to be made mandatory by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), was imperative to assuage pains and apprehension of concerned family members.
Families of crash victims complained that not getting prompt information about the situation and where to go were often the most unsettling for relatives and complicated their misery.
Chief Executive Officer of AIB-N, Akin Olateru, reckoned that families of victims experience great anguish after an air crash, especially in the absence of effective information channels from the government, or the affected airline operator.
Olateru, however, said the global aviation community had taken steps to bridge the gap, while also intensifying safety measures to prevent plane crashes.
He noted that in 1998, during the 32nd Session of the Assembly, the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) considered and acknowledged the subject of aircraft accident victims and their families.
The aim was to ensure that the mental, physical and spiritual well-being of victims involved in civil aviation accidents, and their families, are considered and accommodated by ICAO and its member states in accordance with ICAO’s policies and guidelines.
In 2001, ICAO issued the Guidance on Assistance to Aircraft Accident Victims and their Families. Subsequently, in 2013, the ICAO Policy on Assistance to Aircraft Accident Victims and their Families was published and accompanied by a manual.
“Family Assistance entails the provision of services and information that will address the concerns and needs of the aircraft accident victims and their families.
“The ICAO policies and guidelines ensure that the needs of the victims and their families are addressed in a timely manner. Just as with any other emergency plan, it is essential to have a readiness plan to support the involved victims and their families.
“Victims, survivors and their families should be treated with respect, dignity and empathy. It is vital that the government and airline operator render assistance and support to the victims and their families, and not just at the time of the accident or serious incident but afterwards too,” Olateru said.
From 1969 to 2022, a total of 2,038 (1996 onboard passengers and 42 on ground) lives have been lost to air crashes in Nigeria.
The Commissioner added that Nigeria has not been laid back in providing succor in emergencies, while also improving aviation safety through training and standard practices in the industry.
Under the 2013 National Civil Aviation Policy, AIB is charged with the responsibility of rendering family assistance to victims and their families at times of aircraft accidents.
“I believe that irrespective of the scale of an accident, the victims and their families should receive appropriate and timely assistance. Assistance programmes, in support of aircraft accident victims and their families, require cooperative planning and response by the air operator, State of Occurrence, non-governmental organisations, and specialised commercial companies.
“I, therefore, would like to use this opportunity to recommend that the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) put in place effective policies and regulations that will mandate airline operators in the country to have Family Assistance Plans as part of their emergency plan or procedure.
“NCAA should also ensure that such assistance programmes are supervised, exercised and audited appropriately. The ICAO’s Policy and Manual on the Assistance to Aircraft Accident Victims and their Families is contained in Doc 9998 and Doc 9973, respectively. This detailed information on ICAO’s Family Assistance policies and guidelines are available online,” Olateru said.
Director-General of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Capt. Musa Nuhu, agreed on the need to align with standard procedure, adding that the proposal would have a look in by the apex regulatory body.
Nuhu said that the industry’s larger emphasis is on safety and motivation to keep doing more to ensure that no crash occurs again.
Nuhu said that an air crash is a terrible occurrence, and the deaths irreplaceable. However, “over the last few years, with recommendations from the AIB and standard practices, there has been significant improvement in safety records. Safety remains the primary function of all aviation organisations and it involves everyone. We hope never to have any crash in Nigeria and the world at large,” Nuhu said.
The International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) recently designated February 20 as the International Day for Commemorating Air Crash Victims and their Families. On that date, the global aviation industry remembers all those who have lost their lives in aircraft accidents over the years and their families.
In Nigeria among others, aviators acknowledged the gravity of such loss and pledged to continue to do all possible to ensure that the causes of each tragedy are identified and action taken to prevent recurrence.
