The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) on Wednesday said the Nigerian Air Force Donier 228 that crashed and killed 12 Army Generals on Sunday was 23 years old.
Director General of NCAA, Harold Demuren, said this in a paper he delivered on day-two of the First African Aviation Safety and Security Conference in Abuja, adding the ill fated Donier 228 was among 73 aircraft flying the Nigerian airspace that are above 23 years.
He also pointed out that nine Donier 228 operating in the country are 20 years old, while 17 Boeing 727 are 33 years old.
Demuren said 24 Boeing 737, flying the Nigerian airspace are 26 years old, while 5 Boeing 747 are 32 years old.
Other over aged aircraft are four DC-9, 33 years, two MD-81/82, 24 years, two Fokker 28, 24 years, nine HS 125, 33 years and one Cessina 172, 35 years.
A source at the Nigeria Air force confirmed that the DO 228 was inducted into the Air fFrce platform in 1983, that is 23 years ago.
He said: “The D0 228 was inducted into our platform in 1983 and six were acquired. At the moment, four of them, including the one that crashed are serviceable, while two are awaiting major overhaul. The aircraft are used mainly for light transport.
Meanwhile, Demuren said 25 per cent of accidents worldwide occurred in Africa, saying: “Almost 25 per cent of accidents world wide occurred in Africa in 2004.
“During the first half of 2005, one third of the world�s fatal accidents occurred in Africa, despite having less than 5 per cent of global airline traffic. 2005 was a bad year for African aviation and very bad for Nigeria, two fatal accidents, 225 dead,” he added.
He stated that the two accidents in the country accounted for over 20 per cent of world fatalities.
A breakdown of air accidents in Africa from 1996 to 2005 indicates that the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) recorded the highest number of air crash with 57 accidents, representing 21.1 per cent, followed by Angola, with 36 accidents, representing 13.3 per cent, Sudan, 32 accidents, 11.9 per cent and Nigeria with 25 accidents or 9.3 per cent.
Kenya recorded 19 accidents, representing 7.0 per cent, South Africa nine accidents or 3.3 per cent, Egypt eight accidents or 3.0 per cent while Gabon had seven accidents or 2.6 per cent and Algeria, seven accidents or 2.6 per cent.
He stated further that the global aviation industry is worth over $400 billion and a significant catalyst for economic growth in Africa.