How ‘missing’ plane crew members planned their escape

Gboyega Adeoye, Lagos - 05.05.2008

More revelations have emerged as to the circumstances surrounding the disappearance of the Beechcraft 1900D aircraft belonging to Wings Airline, a charter operator, as there are indications that the plane might not have crashed after all.

Investigation revealed that the pre-flight preparation for the flight that led to the disappearance of the aircraft suggested that the crew members had, from the onset, prepared themselves for a long journey.

Nigerian Tribune investigations revealed that the crew members that were alleged to be going to Obudu Airstrip to pick a dignitary (still unnamed) to Lagos, loaded the aircraft with four-hour endurance fuel before leaving Lagos for the trip.

Many aviation top shots, who would not want their names associated with the situation, had argued that such amount of fuel was too much for a short trip since the aircraft could be refueled at its destination.

More to the suspicion was the way a crew member that was supposed to be included in the flight was tactically hedged out, leaving only Augustine Egbedi (pilot), Mohammed Tongo (co-pilot) and Alex Fuborata, (cabin crew member) to make the trip.

An inside source, who would not want his name mentioned, revealed that one Isabela, a licensed cabin crew member, was supposed to join the flight the but was reprimanded over the sandwich to be served on board and charged to go and make correction.

As the innocent crew member rushed back to make amendment, the aircraft took off, leaving Isabela coming back to see the aircraft already taxiing.

The Obudu Airstrip was said to have been chosen as the exit route due to the fact that the security there is porous as it is not under the control of the three major aviation agencies, the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) and the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA).