Air Peace debunks crash reports

The management of Air Peace has  debunked media report that  its llorin bound B737-500 aircraft with registration number 5N-BQR from Abuja ,was involved in a crash in Illorin on Friday, saying that report does not contain any iota of truth.

A statement  by the management of the  airline on Saturday   said that no such thing happened but the reports misrepresented and exaggerated the facts.

The statement  reads : “The attention of Air Peace has been drawn to misleading online reports purporting that our Ilorin bound B737-500 aircraft with registration number 5N-BQR from Abuja, was involved in a crash in Ilorin, around 10am on July 23, 2021

“For the records, no such thing happened. The reports misrepresented and exaggerated the facts. We can confirm that the aircraft in question landed safely but had a minimal tyre burst while taxing. This debunks all the mischievously headlined reports circulating online, which should be disregarded.

”Our aircraft neither crashed nor crash landed in illorin or in any place for that matter. This kind of sensationalism is bad and was intended to cause panic in the minds of the flying public.

“It was duly reported to the authorities and passengers disembarked seamlessly. The tyres have, however, been fixed and aircraft is intact. We condemn sensational publication of falsehood.

“Air Peace is committed to providing peaceful connectivity across cities and relentlessly observes the highest standards of safety in its operations.

PRESS STATEMENT

The attention of Air Peace has been drawn to misleading online reports purporting that our Ilorin bound B737-500 aircraft with registration number 5N-BQR from Abuja, was involved in a crash in Ilorin, around 10am on July 23, 2021

For the records, no such thing happened. The reports misrepresented and exaggerated the facts. We can confirm that the aircraft in question landed safely but had a minimal tyre burst while taxing. This debunks all the mischievously headlined reports circulating online, which should be disregarded.

Our aircraft neither crashed nor crash landed in illorin or in any place for that matter. This kind of sensationalism is bad and was intended to cause panic in the minds of the flying public.

It was duly reported to the authorities and passengers disembarked seamlessly. The tyres have, however, been fixed and aircraft is intact. We condemn sensational publication of falsehood.

Air Peace is committed to providing peaceful connectivity across cities and relentlessly observes the highest standards of safety in its operations.

SIGNED

AIR PEACE MGT

24 July, 2021.

Dear Colleagues,

This is to confirm an incident involving Air Peace B737-500 with Registration Marks 5N-BQR that occurred yesterday in Ilorin at about 10:30am local time. There were 66 passengers and 6 crew onboard.

AIB Safety investigators did an evaluation of the occurrence and decided NOT to investigate. The Aeroplane has been released to the Operator (Air Peace). The delay in opening the Airport is down to the recovery of the Aeroplane from the Runway by FAAN and Airpeace. The aeroplane had a burst tyre on landing roll.

We enjoin all media practitioners to verify every information before going to press.

Signed:

Tunji Oketunbi

General Manager, Public Affairs

Accident Investigation Bureau