ICAO, AIB remember 2,038 plane crash victims on Int’l day

The International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) and Accident Investigation Bureau Nigeria (AIB-N) yesterday commemorated victims of air crashes and their families as the world marked February 20 International Day for Air Transport Victims.

At the commemoration event in Abuja, hosted by the AIB, local aviation authorities estimated that multiple air crashes in Nigeria had killed 2,038 persons, among who are 42 on ground, in the last 53 years.

The event, attended by families of victims, airline operators and aviation agencies, pledged commitment to deepen safe travel through training, regulations and adherence to international standard procedure.

Council President of ICAO, Salvador Sciacchitano, said the international day was to remember victims and their families, with emphasis on their well-being.

Sciacchitano added that the February 20 commemoration would continue in solidarity with the families.

Also, Director-General of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Capt. Musa Nuhu, said the over 2,000 lives lost were one-crashes-too-many for the local sector, and a motivation to keep doing more to ensure no crash occurs again.

Nuhu said that air crash is a terrible occurrence, and the deaths irreplaceable.

“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.