THE management of Quits Aviation has denied allegations that it tampered with the engine of Deji Adeleke’s Bombardier Challenger 605 aircraft, which belonged to the elder brother of Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke.
In a statement issued today, the management stated that no one could interfere with the aircraft’s engine because it was under 24-hour security supervision, with CCTV footage showing no evidence of tampering.
The Osun State Governor’s spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed, confirmed to newsmen on Sunday that Governor Ademola Adeleke and several of his aides barely averted an aircraft crash.
Rasheed said that the engine of a plane carrying the governor had been tampered with.
It was reported in a national daily that an aircraft carrying Adeleke and some of his aides nearly crashed on September 5, while attempting to take off from Lagos for a journey to Abuja
Rasheed confirmed the news in a statement on Sunday, saying that preliminary findings from the internal probe indicated the likelihood of sabotage.
However, Quits Aviation’s management declared in a statement today that the company is a respectable and reliable aviation entity with a proven track record of providing Aircraft Management, Maintenance, Operations, and Handling services.
The statement reads: “Under an aircraft parking agreement with the owner/operator of aircraft (Bombardier Challenger 605, registration marks 5N-ATA), Quits Aviation is responsible for providing suitable and secured parking space at its premises, whilst the owner/operator is responsible for the technical parking procedures in accordance with the respective Aircraft Maintenance Manuals.
“The aircraft was parked at Quits Aviation premises before the date of the incident on 04.09.2023. During parking, the aircraft was under 24-hour security surveillance and there is no record of observed tampering or security infringements.
“According to CCTV footage observed, the following can be confirmed: On the day of the flight (04.09.2023) at approximately 08:45, the aircraft was towed from its parked position and repositioned close to the Legend Business Hangar to begin with flight preparation procedures.
Speaking further, the management insisted that besides towing the aircraft from its parking space to another location before the time of Adeleke’s flight on September 4, 2023, the CCTV footage revealed no record of tampering or security infringement.
The statement added, “It is confirmed that the aircraft had been parked with no engine cover protection. Except for the towing movement, there was no other interference to its airframe or engines.
“At approximately 13:18 of the same day, the aircraft doors were opened for flight preparation activities until the aircraft departed for its intended flight at approximately 15:20.
“The aircraft later returned to the ramp, eventually to then leave the Quits Aviation premises at approximately 17:12.
“Quits Aviation regrets the incident and confirms its full cooperation with relevant stakeholders and authorities performing an investigation of the incident.
“In promotion of safety, Quits Aviation recommends to its tenants to park aircraft in strict compliance with the Aircraft Maintenance Manual Procedures, requiring that open orifices and engines are always covered to prevent Foreign Object Damage or infestation.”
