The Ondo State Government on Thursday afternoon released a statement indicating that some of its officials were involved in the plane crash that occurred in Lagos State.
The aircraft, a propeller jet marked 5N-BJY and belonging to Associated Airlines, crashed at about 9.30 am, few seconds after take-off while conveying the corpse of the late Governor of Ondo State, Chief Olusegun from the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos to Ondo for burial.
Though airport authorities are yet to release the manifest of the aircraft, they said it was carrying between 20 and 22 people, including the only son of the deceased, Feyi, husband to Agagu’s daughter, as well as Ondo State Commissioner for Tourism, Deji Falae. Deji was the son of elder statesman and former presidential aspirant, Chief Olu Falae.
Family sources say Olufunke, the wife of the late former governor and her daughters, had reached Akure in another chattered flight before the plane conveying her husband’s corpse crashed.
It was learnt that the jet suddenly developed a major fault while in the air. But the Accident Investigation Bureau (AIB), through its spokesman,
Tunji Oketunbi said investigations had commenced towards ascertaining the cause of the incident, adding that the black box had been retrieved.
A statement from the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) said five passengers survived adding.
“We confirm today the crash of an Embraer 120 (plane) belonging to Associated Airlines,” a part of it read. “The rescue operation commenced immediately with all the relevant agencies moving en masse to the crash site.”
Though it did not list the names of the survivors, it was learnt that they include Feyi Agagu and his in-law. They are said to be in critical condition and receiving attention from doctors at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH).
As the plane hit the ground, it immediately caught fire. Surprisingly, however, the casket containing the corpse of Agagu, who was a minister of aviation under ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo, was not burnt
A statement signed by Chief Press Secretary to the Ondo State Governor, Eni Akinsola said the state received with shock the news of the crash. It added that apart from being a national tragedy, the state was more hit by the crash.
“A commissioner, family members, associates and other top government officials were also involved in the crash,” it said.
“Information available indicates that there were casualties and a few survivors of this unfortunate crash. We are however still expecting more information. This is an unfortunate disaster in the life of our dear state. We can only pray that God will visit the state with mercy and give us all the strength to bear these unfortunate losses.”
The statement urged residents of the state to be in a sober and prayerful mood at “these trying times, as God is indeed the only person we should call upon in this period.”
Family sources said the deceased’s wife, Olufunke and her daughters had reached Akure, the Ondo State capital in another chattered aircraft and were still at the airport when the news of the crash filtered in.
The news immediately caused confusion at the airport, as government officials who were waiting to receive the corpse made frantic phone calls. Among the officials include Governor Olusegun Mimiko. The bereaved family thereafter moved to the State Government House.
Agagu, who died on September 13 in Lagos, was to be buried at about 11 a.m. on Friday after a lying-in-state that was planned for Thursday at the Democracy Park, Akure upon the corpse’ arrival from Lagos. The service on Friday was to be held at the St Paul’s Anglican Church, Iju-Odo, Ondo
