ICAO Audit: NAMA embarks on mock aircraft accident search, rescue operation
The International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) ahead of its audit coming up by first quarter of 2022,recently joined forces with the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) and other critical stakeholders in aviation emergency rescue operations to conduct a live aeronautic simulation of an air crash which occurred at the Mafoluku area of Oshodi in Lagos, a few meters from Runway 18 Left and the local airport, Ikeja.
Code named “SAREXNAMA 2021,” the search and rescue exercise focused on a disaster that could result from an air crash and create mass casualty incident which requires a coordinated response from critical stakeholders saddled with the responsibility of managing aviation emergencies. The mock air crash search and rescue exercise involved an aircraft with registration No. ZYMMM from Abuja to Accra.
The aircraft diverted to Lagos due to electrical problem, and on board were 38 souls including four crew. 15 survivors were rescued while 23 others were unaccounted for. Addressing participants at the end of the exercise, the convener of the exercise and Managing Director of NAMA,Capt. Fola Akinkuotu expressed delight for the huge turn out by different agencies and stakeholders .
The NAMA boss however noted that several gaps were observed during the exercise especially in the areas of coordination and response to alert, even as he assured that the agency would work assiduously with relevant stakeholders in order to close the said gaps.
Participants included all the aviation agencies, the National Emergency Management Agency(NEMA),Nigeria AirForce, Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Nigeria Police, Nigerian Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC), Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), Federal Fire Service, Lagos State Fire Service, Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), the Nigerian Red Cross, as well as Caverton Helicopters, among others.
