Aftermath Of Crash: Ilorin Aviation College Struggles Amidst Depleting Aircraft Fleet
The International Aviation College, Ilorin, Kwara State may have been stalled following the absence of a training aircraft, Daily Trust can report.
This follows the recent incident involving the training aircraft of the aviation training school owned by the Kwara State Government.
On Friday, May 23, 2025, a training aircraft operated by the college crash-landed with a student pilot injured and the instructor injured.
The incident occurred on approach at the Runway 05 of the Ilorin International Airport.
The Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) which confirmed the incident in a statement said it has commenced an investigation into the incident.
According to a statement by Mrs. Bimbo Olawumi Oladeji, Director, Public Affairs and Family Assistance, the incident happened at 17:28 local time during a simulated instrument approach on Runway 05 at Ilorin International Airport.
She said the aircraft veered off the runway and came to a stop on the grass verge. Two occupants were on board.
The following day, the Director-General of the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) flew down to the airport with the bureau’s go-team as part of the investigation process.
Speaking with Daily Trust, he stated that both occupants of the aircraft survived the crash, one with serious injuries, and the other with less severe wounds.
“The aircraft came to rest just to the left of the runway, depending on the direction of approach. Our team is on-site and we expect to conclude recovery operations within the hour,” he said.
Badeh confirmed that the data card had been successfully retrieved and that the process of downloading its contents had commenced.
Assuring the public, the DG said the incident occurred during a routine training flight, stressing that such accidents, while unfortunate, can occur in training environments.
“There is no cause for concern. Our airspace remains safe,” he said.
Badeh also confirmed that both pilots are conscious and coherent.
“One has undergone an MRI scan, and both are receiving appropriate medical care. They are in stable condition, considering the circumstances,” he added.
The pilot with serious injuries was later transferred to the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital (UITH), Ilorin.
‘Similar incident in 2019’
It would be recalled that in May 2019, a similar incident occurred when another Diamond trainee aircraft with registration Number 5N-BNH crash-landed.
Two people – the instructor and the student-pilot – were injured in the incident.
‘College struggles over absence of training aircraft’
Daily Trust reports that the Diamond DA 42 which was involved in the serious incident got substantially damaged and it was the only serviceable aircraft the college had as of that time.
From a fleet of six aircraft, the college is currently down with no aircraft for training of pilots.
The college established in 2011 offers courses in private pilot license, commercial pilot licence, flight dispatcher, instrument rating, multi-engine rating and night rating.
Daily Trust reports that following the incident which happened during “a mock check flight” in preparation for the student pilot for a Commercial Pilot License check ride, the college had to seek help from the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology (NCAT), Zaria.
Already, the college has a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the NCAT which includes exchange of resources.
It was learnt that the college had sought approval to purchase an engine for one of the aircraft in the fleet to be recommissioned for flying but the state government is said to be working on it.
A source who spoke with our correspondent in confidence said, “Currently the college is floating. It has not a single aircraft to conduct the required test flights for its student pilots. This is what is done regularly as part of the training manual.”
Another source said though there were no aircraft on ground at the moment, this has not stalled the training of students as most of them who are about 35 are currently in ground school.
“We are not flying at the moment but most students are in ground school. As soon as they are through, they resume flying. I know that by the time we would start flying, aircraft would be available,” the source said.
A former student of the college who spoke with our correspondent stated that the absence of a training aircraft would no doubt affect the smooth running of the college as the students require some minimum flying hours to be recommended and certified qualified for either the Private Pilot License (PPL) or Commercial Pilot Licence (CPL).
NCAT to the rescue
An inside source confirmed that the victims of the last incident are now well, adding that the student-pilot recently graduated and was decorated by the Governor, Abdulrahman Abdulrasaq.
He said, “But the multi-engine Diamond DA 42 aircraft that was crash-landed is gone and beyond recovery.
“The students only need to have a 20-hour fly time for the endorsement to be approved by the NCAA. But the governor made a pledge the day he decorated some students with the Commissioner for Tertiary Education, Hajia Saadatu Modibbo Kawu that we should try and get a new aircraft and he is ready to fund it.”
It was learnt that during the last graduation ceremony, the college hired an aircraft from Zaria based on the MoU with the college.
“We still paid for the aircraft despite the MoU we have with Zaria. It was flown down here. But to us this is not sustainable.”
“We are planning to get a new aircraft and the management is working towards it and once they have gotten it, the school will notify the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority which will in turn send inspectors to go and check it following which a letter will be sent to the federal ministry of aviation for importation approval,” the source added.
Efforts to get the commissioner of Tertiary Education, Hajia Saadatu Modibbo Kawu were not successful as several calls and a text message on Saturday and Sunday were not replied.
NCAT debunks fleet depletion claim
Head of Training, IAC, Mr. Ajape Abdullahi, insisted the college has trainee aircraft, adding that the college has been admitting and graduating graduate students in the last two months, despite the last incident.
He disclosed that IAC in June graduated three pilot students after the successful completion of their CPL training.
According to him, the students used the Diamond DA 42 trainee aircraft of the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology (NCAT), Zaria to complete their practical training before graduating in June.
He also explained that the college at the moment, has about 35 pilot students, comprising PPL and CPL trainees who are in ground school.
He said: “The only aircraft that we do not have at the moment is Diamond DA 42, which is multiple engine equipment. Don’t forget that we have a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with NCAT, which enables us to exchange equipment.
“Presently, we have two Diamond DA 40 aircraft in our fleet, which can be used for practical purposes and this is usually in the last phase of our students. Our pilot students are still in ground school. It’s from there that they will proceed to the fly line.
“Also, we have a serviceable simulator for practical training of our students. The simulator is accredited by the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA).
“For the PPL, the maximum training time is six months – three months in ground school and another three months in the fly line, but this is largely dependent on the performance of students and the weather situation. For the CPL, it’s usually 18 months – 16 weeks in the ground school and the training weeks in the fly line.”
Vice President, Aviation Safety Round Table Initiative (ASRTI), Dr. Alex Nwuba, called for proper funding of the college to save it from collapse.
He stated that lack of serviceable aircraft could stall the training of students in the college.
He said: “It means that their education would be delayed, which is typical of our education system where you go into school for a certain number of years, but end up staying longer due to the no fault of the students.
“The State Government can intervene in the current situation of the college if truly they no longer have a trainee aircraft. We should keep the college going. It’s simply a matter of priority for this to get done.”
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