The Governor of Taraba State, Dambaba Suntai and five of his aides were, yesterday, involved in a plane crash after their private plane, Cessna 208 aircraft marked 5N-BMJ, crashed in Yola, Adamawa State capital.
While initial report said the governor died in the crash, the aviation ministry and the Taraba and Adamawa state governments said that he survived.
Governor Suntai, who is now in a critical condition at the German Specialist Hospital in Yola, was said to be piloting the small aircraft at the time of the incident. The plane hit the ground behind the NNPC depot, along Yola-Numan Road at about 7 pm.
The secretary to the Taraba State Government,Amb. Emmanuel Njiwah, in a reaction, confirmed that the governor survived the crash, but was in critical condition. The Secretary stated that the injured governor had been conveyed to a hospital in Yola.
A statement issued by the Special Assistant to the Minister of Aviation on Media, Mr. Joe Obi, gave details of the crash and said no passenger on the aircraft died.
The statement said, “An aircraft, Cessna 208, with six souls on board including crew, operated by the Taraba State Government departed Jalingo, Taraba State for Yola this evening and reported contact with the Yola Control Tower (1720Z) and field in sight at 38 miles estimating landing at 1730Z.
“The pilot subsequently lost contact with Yola Control Tower and subsequent effort to raise the aircraft failed.
“Search and Rescue was immediately activated and the site of incident located with all victims alive with various degrees of injuries. The victims have been evacuated to the hospital for treatment pending further investigation of the incident.
“This is the correct version of the incident; every other one that is contrary to this is incorrect.”