It was miraculous survival for Mr. Femi Akinsanya in yesterday’s Associated Airlines’ plane crash
Akinsanya, son- in-law of the late former Governor Olusegun Agagu whose body was being conveyed to Akure, the Ondo State capital from Lagos for burial, walked out of the remains of the Embraer 120 aircraft.
Akinsanya, along with his brother in-law, Mr. Feyi Agagu, the late Agagu’s son, were the only family members of the late governor on board the ill-fated plane.
As it turned out, they were among the seven survivors. As the aircraft crashed, Akinsanya, a Lagos businessman, was seen walking out of the wreckage before the aircraft caught fire. He suffered a minor injury on his head.
As he walked away, apparently conscious, Air Force men who were among the first set of rescuers at the site, stopped him. They assisted him to stop the flow of blood on his head. He told them he wanted to go home to join his family, according to an eyewitness.
But the Air Force personnel told him he was under the Federal Government’s custody and could not go. They took him to the nearby Air Force clinic.
The eye witness said: “I saw one man walk out on his legs. I think he is the only one that walked out.”
It was gathered that Aklinsanya broke the news of the crash to the burial party waiting at the Akure airport to receive the body of the former governor, which was to lie in-state in the Ondo State capital yesterday.
He reportedly spoke to Mr. Femi Agagu, the late former governor’s younger brother, who broke the news to Governor Olusegun Mimiko, who was leading the burial party.
The airline, in a statement, expressed deep regrets and “with all submission to the will of the Almighty” confirmed the “unfortunate accident of one of our aircraft”.
The statement added: “The aircraft was chartered for a flight to Akure on the 3rd of October, 2013.
“We are currently cooperating fully with the aviation regulatory authorities with a view to establishing the remote and immediate causes of this most regrettable and unfortunate accident.
“Our prayers go to the affected families of the departed. We pray for their souls to rest in peace while we continue to wish and pray for the speedy and full recovery of the survivors of this grave and sad accident.”