NAMA carries out rescue operations ahead of ICAO audit

The Nigerian Airspace Management Agency replicated aircraft accident search and rescue operations over the weekend ahead of the audit by the International Civil Aviation Organization.

According to the NAMA, the aircraft accident search and rescue operation was carried out in preparation for the International Civil Aviation Organization audit taking place in the first quarter of 2022.

The agency and some stakeholders in the aviation emergency rescue operations industry were present on Saturday at the Mafoluku area of Oshodi in Lagos to conduct a live aeronautic simulation of an air crash.

It said in a statement issued on Monday that the rescue operations, codenamed ‘SAREXNAMA 2021,’ was conducted a few meters from Runway 18 Left and the local airport, Ikeja.

The statement said the focus of the exercise was on a disaster that could result from an air crash and create a mass casualty incident which required 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 ZYMMM from Abuja to Accra.

The aircraft diverted to Lagos due to electrical problems, and on board were 38 souls including 4 crew.

It said 15 survivors were rescued while 23 others were unaccounted for.

The Managing Director, NAMA, Capt. Fola Akinkuotu, who addressed the participants at the end of the exercise, expressed delight for the huge turnout by different agencies and stakeholders.

Akinkuotu said were several gaps observed during the exercise, especially in the area of coordination and response to alert.